HEY, IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS, PEOPLE WILL BE COUNTING DOWN THE SECONDS UNTIL MIDNIGHT. YOU KNOW, NO ONE DOES IT BETTER THAN NEW YORK CITY. KOCO SPOKE TO DICK CLARK BACK IN 1997 ABOUT WHAT MAKES TONIGHT SO SPECIAL. YOU KNOW, IT’S A STRANGE THING, BUT SOMETIME LATER TONIGHT, WELL OVER A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER DOWN IN THAT SQUARE. I’LL BE DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW. I’M AT A CAMERA POSITION HERE ON THE MARRIOTT HOTEL. THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS, AND WE’VE GOT 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT CAMERAS AROUND, BUT THEY’LL ALL BE FOCUSED ON ONE THING, AND THAT’S THE BALL. AND OVER 300 MILLION PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL WATCH TIMES SQUARE TO SEE THAT SILLY BALL DR
From the KOCO 5 Archives: Dick Clark says what makes New 12 months’s Eve so particular
Again in 1997, KOCO 5 spoke with Dick Clark about what makes New 12 months’s Eve so particular.
Up to date: 6:38 PM CST Dec 31, 2024
Individuals throughout the nation might be counting down the seconds till midnight, marking the beginning of 2025. >> Get the newest information tales of curiosity by clicking right here.And nobody does it higher than New York Metropolis. Again in 1997, KOCO 5 spoke with Dick Clark about what makes New 12 months’s Eve so particular. “You understand, it is a unusual factor in Occasions Sq. someday later tonight properly over half 1,000,000 persons are going to assemble down there, however they’re going to all be centered on one factor and convey within the new yr. Why? It is a custom,” Clark mentioned in 1997. >> Obtain the KOCO 5 AppWhile Clark is gone, his legacy lives on each New 12 months’s Eve with “Dick Clark’s Primetime New 12 months’s Rockin’ Eve” with Ryan Seacrest. You possibly can watch half certainly one of this yr’s celebration on KOCO 5 at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Prime Headlines Jimmy Carter’s enduring environmental legacy House a complete loss, a number of automobiles destroyed after New 12 months’s Eve fireplace in Newalla Oklahoma sees important rise in whooping cough circumstances in 2024 Gov. Kevin Stitt launches ‘School rooms to Careers’ initiative OKC Metropolis Council defers vote on $875,000 settlement with Stavian Rodriguez’s household
Individuals throughout the nation might be counting down the seconds till midnight, marking the beginning of 2025.
>> Get the newest information tales of curiosity by clicking right here.
And nobody does it higher than New York Metropolis. Again in 1997, KOCO 5 spoke with Dick Clark about what makes New 12 months’s Eve so particular.
“You understand, it is a unusual factor in Occasions Sq. someday later tonight properly over half 1,000,000 persons are going to assemble down there, however they’re going to all be centered on one factor and convey within the new yr. Why? It is a custom,” Clark mentioned in 1997.
>> Obtain the KOCO 5 App
Whereas Clark is gone, his legacy lives on each New 12 months’s Eve with “Dick Clark’s Primetime New 12 months’s Rockin’ Eve” with Ryan Seacrest. You possibly can watch half certainly one of this yr’s celebration on KOCO 5 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Royal Mail confirmed a postal employee had “wilfully delayed” quite a lot of letters in Lychpit.
It comes after Lychpit resident, David Ross, 66, expressed issues to the sorting workplace that he had not obtained a letter he was anticipating.
The retired ambulance service employee, who lives in Badger’s Financial institution, additionally contacted MP Alex Brewer, who wrote to Royal Mail and obtained the next response:
READ MORE: Plans to construct properties on land used to develop Christmas bushes close to backyard centre
“I remorse that quite a lot of letters for some addresses together with your constituent had been wilfully delayed.
“I’m sorry for any concern this has brought about and I wish to reassure you and your constituent that we’re on no account complacent about such issues with our buyer’s mail.
“We continually evaluate safety to make sure we’re taking all sensible steps to eradicate any risk to the integrity of our service and we now have zero tolerance in direction of this sort of behaviour.
“All mail was retrieved and those who had been delayed have now been delivered, together with objects for the Badgers Financial institution. A brand new postie has been assigned to this supply spherical and nowadays mail deliveries to Badgers Financial institution are happening six days per week, when there may be mail accessible to ship.
“I wish to reassure you that ought to a supply spherical not be accomplished on a selected day, it would develop into the precedence the next working day.”
David informed the Gazette that he and fiancé Mary had been “bowled over” by the response, including that he thinks it’s “completely disgraceful.”
He stated: “To obtain a letter from the MP and Royal Mail saying a postie is dumping letters, it is onerous to consider.
“Particularly at the moment of 12 months when persons are posting presents and vouchers. Folks may not get Christmas presents due to this.”
A spokesperson for Royal Mail stated: “Misplaced mail is a severe matter, and we now have processes in place to analyze and resolve such points.
“We will guarantee residents in Lychpit who obtained this letter that every one their excellent mail was delivered forward of Christmas. Our regular service resumed in time for the Christmas interval.”
It was unclear what motion has been taken towards the postie at fault, Royal Mail declined to deal with the person.
HM Income and Customs perm sec Sir Jim Harra has informed MPs that funding prices for his division’s Places Programme have elevated by simply over £400m over the previous eight years however the challenge’s whole-life prices stay “steady” at £2.88bn.
Harra was quizzed about HMRC’s long-running workplace consolidation programme, which is shifting operations from round 170 small workplaces to 14 regional centres, at a current assembly of parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
In a follow-up letter to the committee he insisted that whereas funding prices for the programme elevated from an anticipated £552m in 2017 to a present determine of £953m, an enlargement of the programme – together with extending the funding section from 10 to fifteen years – was the rationale.
He stated that the programme, which has to this point seen HMRC workers transfer into buildings corresponding to Ruskin Sq. in Croydon, Unity Sq. in Nottingham and Atlantic Sq. in Glasgow, would see whole-life prices basically unchanged at £2.88bn measured over a 25-year interval.
Harra, who is because of stand down as perm sec within the coming weeks, informed MPs that the funding value will increase had been brought on by a spread of things, together with the enlargement of the programme’s scope and “unprecedented excessive ranges of inflation over current years”.
A breakdown of investment-cost will increase confirmed that £248m had been attributed to the addition of regional centres at East Kilbride, Preston and Portsmouth to the programme – together with inflation-related value will increase. The determine additionally contains the impression of “strategic selections” to amass some hub freeholds when it represents higher worth for cash than earlier preparations.
Different value drivers included the elevated expense of voluntary redundancy packages due to a authorized problem that compelled revisions to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme to be put aside. Closing native workplaces and inspiring workers to maneuver to different workplaces probably triggers the choice of voluntary redundancy for individuals who would face extreme journey occasions.
The PCS union received a Excessive Court docket battle over adjustments to the compensation scheme that got here into impact in 2016, forcing the then authorities to revert to the scheme’s extra beneficiant 2010 phrases for voluntary exits. It efficiently argued that the Cupboard Workplace had did not correctly seek the advice of on the adjustments. HMRC subsequently paused its exit programmes.
Harra’s letter stated the impression of getting to revert to the costlier 2010 compensation scheme phrases had added £82m to the price of the Places Programme.
Along with the five-year extension to the Places Programme’s funding section, Harra stated HMRC had modified the programme’s evaluation interval from 10 years to 25 years. He informed MPs that regardless of the enlargement and extra monetary pressures detailed, the entire life prices of the programme had been solely £49m greater than had been deliberate in 2017.
The perm sec stated that the comparatively small change to the challenge’s whole-life prices was “testomony to the worth for cash options we’ve been in a position to safe”.
He added that switching to a “smaller, fashionable and extra environmentally environment friendly community” of regional centres and workplaces had allowed HMRC to drive down general operating prices and “resulted in elevated programme advantages general”.
For the most effective a part of a decade, PAC members have challenged HMRC on the underlying enterprise case for its its regional centres – which characterize the primary wave of the federal government’s hubs programme. Key issues have included whether or not the division has accurately anticipated its long-term area wants, significantly in gentle of the elevated development in the direction of hybrid working powered by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Harra informed MPs that as of September 2024 the occupancy fee for the 12 HMRC regional centres which are open was 67% – as measured by Cupboard Workplace-defined metrics.
The perm sec acknowledged that his division has spare capability, however stated deliberate will increase to headcount would take up a number of the surplus, whereas extra area could be rented out to different components of presidency.
“HMRC’s allotted capability at the moment exceeds our wants as a result of we’re holding area for the long run workforce development introduced by the chancellor in her Autumn Funds,” Harra stated. “I count on HMRC occupancy ranges to rise as we proceed our deliberate workforce development and sublet extra of our allotted capability.”
Harra informed MPs that HMRC has sublet 61,000sq m of area on the 12 regional centres to 52 authorities departments and companies. He stated the area may accommodate round 14,000 workers and was forecast to generate earnings of £36.6m in 2024-25, rising to an anticipated £39.2m in 2025-26.
Harra stated HMRC sublets an additional 23,000sq m of area in its wider property to departments – representing area for an extra 1,300 full-time-equivalent workers.
HOUSTON – LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns because the Tigers dealt with the Baylor Bears on Tuesday afternoon to seize the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, 44-31.
LSU finishes the season with an general file of 9-4. The Tigers will return to the sector to open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Clemson.
The Tigers have been capable of transfer the ball with ease on the opening possession. Once they wanted to maneuver the chains, it was the freshman tight finish who stepped up. On 4th-and-5 from the Baylor 35, Nussmeier discovered Trey’Dez Inexperienced for a 5-yard connection for a primary down. On Third-and-5 from the Baylor 10, Nussmeier discovered Inexperienced once more for a landing connection, giving LSU an early 7-0 lead with 8:31 to play within the first quarter.
With Baylor driving into LSU territory, quarterback Sawyer Robertson was intercepted by LSU freshman linebacker Davhon Keys who returned 40 yards for a landing. The Tigers led 14-0 on the 6:40 mark.
Keys turned simply the third LSU participant all-time with a pick-six in a bowl recreation, becoming a member of Marcus Spears (20 yards) vs. Oklahoma, 1/4/04 in BCS Nationwide Championship (Nokia Sugar Bowl) and Quad Wilson (99 yards) vs. Purdue, 1/2/23 in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
The Bears responded with factors of their very own as Robertson discovered Josh Cameron with a 21-yard landing connection to chop the Tiger result in 14-7 with 14:54 to play within the second quarter.
It solely took LSU 5 performs into the subsequent drive to reply as Nussmeier discovered Chris Hilton Jr. for a 40-yard landing. With the rating, the Tigers prolonged their result in 21-7 with 12:16 to play within the first half. Nussmeier completed the drive with 12-of-13 passing and 119 yards and a couple of touchdowns for the sport.
Hilton flashed once more by working previous his defender and reeling in a 43-yard reception, the place he was downed on the 1. On Third-and-1 from the Baylor 1, Nussmeier discovered Trey-Dez Inexperienced once more for a landing rating, extending the Tigers’ result in 28-7 with 8:46 to play within the first half.
The Tiger protection continued to flex their muscle tissue. On 4th-and-10 from the LSU 40, Robertson was sacked by Whit Weeks and Sai’vion Jones for a turnover on downs. It was 28-7 LSU with simply over six minutes left within the half.
Nevertheless, the Bears captured some momentum to finish the half. A 36-yard discipline purpose try from Damian Ramos was blocked by Baylor to maintain it at 28-7 on the 3:18 mark. And a landing rush from Dawson Pendergrass minimize the result in 28-14 with 1:41 within the half.
Zavion Thomas returned the Baylor kickoff 95 yards to increase the LSU lead again to 34-14 with 1:28 remaining within the half. LSU returned a kickoff for a landing in consecutive video games for its first time within the SEC period (since 1933). Moreover, LSU recorded a number of kickoff return scores in a season for the third time (1937, 1957, 2024). Aaron Anderson had a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. Oklahoma on Nov. 30, 2024.
LSU was capable of pressure a turnover on downs to open the second half as Baylor’s move on 4th-and-6, which was initially dominated a landing, was referred to as incomplete. The Tigers took over on the 9-yard line.
The Tigers gave the ball again to the Bears, nonetheless, as Nussmeier discovered Aaron Anderson for a 33-yard achieve and fumble, which was recovered by Devyn Bobby on the Baylor 45. The Bears would flip it into factors with a 4-yard move from Robertson to Ashtyn Hawkins to make it 34-24 with 6:21 to play within the third quarter.
LSU would flip it over on back-to-back possessions. On Third-and-12 with 4:32 to play within the quarter, Nussmeier’s move supposed for Anderson was intercepted by Garmon Randolph and returned 17 yards to the LSU 26. Nevertheless, on 4th-and-1 from the LSU 17, an errant snap compelled a lack of 36 and a turnover on downs, giving the ball proper again to the Tigers.
LSU prolonged its lead once more with a 4-yard rush from Josh Williams. The Tigers led 41-24 with 14:56 to play within the contest.
A 43-yard discipline purpose from Damian Ramos would make it 44-24 with 9:46 to play within the recreation.
Pendergrass punched in a 3-yard rush for Baylor on the 6:20 mark to make it 44-31.
Wayne Osmond, the sleek baritone of pop group the Osmond Brothers and later the Osmonds, has died on the age of 73. Osmond died at a hospital in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, after a “huge stroke”, in keeping with his brother Merrill Osmond.
“I’ve by no means recognized a person that had extra humility,” Merrill Osmond wrote on Fb. “A person with absolute no guile. A person that was fast to forgive and had the power to indicate unconditional like to everybody he ever met.”
He stated: “I’ll miss him tremendously. I’m so grateful to have grown up with one in all heavenly father‘s biggest sons.”
In an announcement, the Osmond household stated: “His legacy of religion, music, love and laughter have influenced the lives of many individuals around the globe. He would need everybody to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that households are perpetually and that banana splits are one of the best dessert. We love him and can miss him dearly.”
Born the fourth of 9 siblings on 28 August 1951 in Ogden, Utah, Wayne Osmond began his singing profession as a boy in a barbershop quarter together with his older brother Alan and youthful brothers Merrill and Jay. The group started singing for the household’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – colloquially although now not formally generally known as Mormons – congregation in 1958.
After being found at Disneyland, the foursome gained extra publicity on ABC’s The Lawrence Welk Present and The Andy Williams Present, including brothers Donny and Jimmy within the course of. Wayne primarily offered backing vocals and was a well-rounded musician, enjoying guitar and bagpipe, amongst different devices.
Then generally known as the Osmonds, the group reached the top of their fame within the Nineteen Seventies, with the hit single One Unhealthy Apple spending 5 weeks at No 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100 in early 1971. The group headlined an Osmond Brothers Particular for CBS that yr. Donny and sister Marie Osmond would go on to host the ABC selection present Donny & Marie from 1976 to 1979, which grew to become a Vegas strip staple within the 2010s.
Wayne Osmond endured numerous well being issues through the years; he underwent surgical procedure for a mind tumor in 1997, had a stroke in 2012 and was handled for most cancers. He’s survived by all of his siblings – Virl, Tom, Alan, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy – in addition to his spouse of over 50 years, Kathlyn, and their 5 youngsters.
Wayne Osmond, a founding member of household band The Osmonds, who had a string of hits within the Nineteen Seventies, has died on the age of 73.
Wayne was a singer and guitarist, and co-wrote a lot of their greatest hits, together with Loopy Horses, Goin’ House And Let Me In.
“Wayne introduced a lot mild, laughter, and like to everybody who knew him, particularly me,” wrote brother Donny. “He was the last word optimist and was cherished by everybody.”
Merrill Osmond referred to as his late brother “a genius in his capacity to put in writing music” who was “capable of seize the hearts of thousands and thousands of individuals and convey them nearer to God”.
He continued: “I’ve by no means identified a person that had extra humility. A person with absolute no guile. A person that was fast to forgive and had the flexibility to point out unconditional like to everybody he ever met.”
Merrill and Donny mentioned the reason for demise was a stroke.
Born in August 1951, in Ogden, Utah, Wayne was the fourth oldest of 9 kids and raised in a Mormon family.
As a toddler, he began performing in a barbershop quartet with siblings Alan, Merrill and Jay.
By 1961, the harmonising brothers have been common performers at Disneyland in California. A yr later, they made their TV debut on The Andy Williams Present.
They shortly turned regulars on the present, incomes the nickname “one-take Osmonds” due to their flawless, tirelessly rehearsed performances.
Youthful sibling Donny joined the line-up in 1963, they usually started to broaden their repertoire to incorporate clean-cut pop songs.
Their preliminary singles flopped however, after the success of the Jackson 5 confirmed that household pop may very well be a business success, MGM Data signed the band and despatched them to work on the famed R&B studio Muscle Shoals.
There, they got a tune referred to as One Dangerous Apple (Do not Spoil the Complete Bunch), which had initially been written for the Jacksons however was rejected by their file label.
Perky, bubbly and shiny, the tune topped the US singles chart for 5 weeks in 1971 and established the band as a chart presence, a decade after their skilled debut.
For some time, the siblings generated the identical kind of fevered pleasure as The Beatles.
When the band flew into Heathrow Airport in 1973, 10,000 teenage followers packed the roof gardens at a close-by workplace block to see them arrive. A part of the balcony railing and wall collapsed amidst a crowd surge, barely injuring 18 ladies.
On their departure, lots of of followers mobbed their limousine. A reporter for the New York Occasions mentioned “they have been fortunate to flee alive“, whereas the Guardian mentioned the scenes virtually led to a ban on pop teams getting into the UK through Heathrow.
However pop is a fickle trade, and The Osmonds’ file gross sales began to tail off by the mid-Nineteen Seventies.
On the similar time, Donny and Marie Osmond have been provided their very own TV selection present, which turned an enormous hit within the US and was screened by BBC One within the UK.
In consequence, the band went on hiatus and in the end dissolved in 1980, though they frequently reformed for county gala’s and reunion excursions over the approaching a long time.
Wayne Osmond suffered a variety of well being issues throughout his life. He was identified with a mind tumour as a toddler, which resulted in cognitive issues.
In 1994, he seen that the situation was worsening.
“I seen I could not play my saxophone any extra as a result of my head would begin throbbing,” he later recalled. “And my knees would fall out from below me after I was on stage. This all started occurring inside per week.”
The next surgical procedure and associated most cancers remedies resulted in vital listening to loss that endured for the remainder of his life. He additionally suffered a earlier stroke in 2012.
In 2019, the musician joined his siblings Alan, Merrill and Jay for his or her remaining ever efficiency on TV present The Discuss.
Performing in entrance of a display screen that confirmed a montage of their profession highlights, the unique quartet carried out a tune referred to as The Final Chapter, written as a thanks to their followers.
Sister Marie, who introduced the present, joined them afterwards to pay tribute, saying: “I’m so honoured to be your sister. I really like you guys. You have labored so laborious. Take pleasure in your retirement.”
Wayne spent his retirement indulging in hobbies together with fly fishing, and spending time together with his household. He maintained an optimistic outlook, telling Utah newspaper Desert Information that listening to loss did not trouble him.
“My favorite factor now could be to handle my yard,” he mentioned. “I flip my listening to aids off, deaf as a doorknob, tune every little thing out, it is actually joyful.”
He’s survived by spouse Kathlyn and 5 kids, Amy, Steven, Gregory, Sarah and Michelle.
He’s additionally survived by his eight siblings: Virl, Tom, Alan, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy.
HOUSTON – Baylor soccer had its six-game profitable streak snapped as LSU took benefit of massive momentum performs to publish a 44-31 win over the Bears within the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, on Tuesday night in entrance of 59,940 at NRG Stadium.
LSU (9-4), snapping Baylor’s six-game profitable streak, obtained 10 factors off two fourth-down stops, together with one on a 36-yard loss on a excessive snap on fourth-and-1 from the 17. The Tigers additionally scored on a 41-yard interception return and 95-yard kickoff return to beat the Bears in a bowl sport for the primary time in three tries. The Bears additionally had a punt returned for a landing referred to as again within the fourth quarter and a third-quarter, fourth-down, red-zone conversion that went for a landing however noticed the decision on the sector reversed after
Redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson had a profession day, finishing 30 of 51 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was equally spectacular, finishing 24-of-34 for 304 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Josh Cameron tied a profession excessive with eight catches for 111 yards and scored his tenth landing of the season. With freshman All-American working again Bryson Washington injured within the first half, sophomore Dawson Pendergrass rushed for 63 yards on 21 carries and tied a profession excessive with two touchdowns, including three catches for 26 yards.
Baylor’s 507 yards whole offense was probably the most LSU has given up all 12 months and ties for the second-most since Missouri tallied 527 on Oct. 7, 2023.
In an explosive first half that produced 51 factors and a mixed 523 yards, LSU used a 41-yard choose six on a Baylor bobbled display move that was secured by freshman linebacker Davhon Keys and a 95-yard kickoff return for a landing by Mississippi State switch Zavion Thomas to take a 34-17 lead into the locker room.
Nussmeier supplied many of the first-half offense for the Tigers, throwing for 200 yards and landing tosses of 10 and 1 yards to freshman receiver Trey’Dez Inexperienced and a good looking 41-yarder to Chris Hilton Jr., who already had 113 yards by halftime.
After LSU obtained out to a fast 14-0 lead, the Bears took simply 5 performs to attain after a brief punt, with Robertson and Cameron hooking up on a 21-yard TD strike.
Hilton hauled within the 41-yard TD catch after which caught a 43-yarder to arrange the quick 1-yard move to Inexperienced that pushed the Tigers’ result in 28-7.
In hurry-up mode, Baylor took simply over a minute and a half to attain on Dawson Pendergrass’s one-yard TD run after Robertson hit Ketron Jackson Jr. with a 35-yard move to the 1-yard line. However Thomas returned the following kickoff again 95 yards for a landing, with kicker Damian Ramos lacking the PAT to depart it at a 20-point sport, 34-14.
Taking it all the way down to the final second on the clock, Isaiah Hankins booted a 23-yard area purpose on the final play of the half. It was Hankins’ forty sixth profession area purpose, shifting him into sole possession of second place behind Jeff Eire.
Regardless of trailing by 17 on the break, the Bears really outgained the Tigers, 272-251, with Robertson throwing for 234 yards.
On the opening drive of the second half, Baylor made it all the way down to the 8-yard line, however Ashtyn Hawkins was dominated, after overview, to haven’t gotten a foot down on a move to the again of the tip zone on fourth down.
After the protection compelled LSU’s first turnover of the sport, a fumble compelled by Carl Williams IV and recovered by Devyn Bobby on the Bears’ 37-yard line, Baylor obtained it again inside 34-24 on Robertson’s four-yard TD move to Hawkins with 6:21 left within the third quarter.
Trying to reduce the result in three, sixth-year senior linebacker Garmon Randolph picked off a Nussmeier move and returned it 17 yards to the Tigers’ 26. However the offense failed to attain when the shotgun snap sailed over Robertson’s head and was recovered by the quarterback all the best way again at Baylor’s 47.
Beginning on Baylor’s finish of the sector for the primary time, LSU transformed with a four-yard TD run by Josh Williams on a direct snap. One other failed fourth-down conversion led to a 43-yard area purpose by Damian Ramos and pushed the lead again to twenty factors once more, 44-24.
The Bears obtained again on the board with one other landing run by Pendergrass and obtained all the way down to the 5-yard line on Robertson’s 18-yard toss to tight finish Gavin Yates.
After getting a key cease with 3:46 left within the sport and down 13, the Bears obtained an 84-yard punt return from the nation’s main punt returner, Cameron, however a roughing the punter penalty nullified the rating, retaining the Tigers on the sector.
That allowed LSU to maintain the ball till a Baylor fourth-down cease with 1:09 left. The Bears drove all the way down to the LSU 4-yard line however could not slender the hole, with a fourth-down try to Hawkins lacking on the final play of the sport.
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
The variety of UK firms submitting their accounts greater than six months late in consecutive years rose final 12 months, pushing fines to file ranges as firms struggled to place the pandemic behind them and persuade auditors of their monetary well being.
Figures produced by Firms Home present {that a} file £34.4mn of fines have been issued in 2023-24 to personal firms submitting significantly late two years in a row, up from £10.2mn in 2019-20.
The full variety of firms fined the utmost £3,000 for repeatedly submitting greater than six months late was 11,463 in 2023-24, in contrast with 3,418 in 2019-20.
For the reason that pandemic, firms have been grappling with slower financial progress, excessive borrowing and vitality prices, and wage rises. “Firms struggling post-Covid have by no means actually gotten over it,” mentioned Johnathan Dudley, a companion at accounting agency Crowe.
Extra companies have been struggling to show to auditors that that they had the monetary power to remain afloat as a “going concern”, mentioned Dudley, contributing to the delays in submitting accounts.
Non-public firms are hit with penalties from Firms Home in the event that they file their accounts late, with the cash finally paid to the Treasury. The fines vary from £150 for those who file inside a month of the deadline, to £3,000 for many who file greater than six months late in two consecutive monetary years.
The variety of £150 fines has dropped considerably because the 2021-22 peak, however longer submitting delays have continued to rise.
In whole, Firms Home has collected £785.2mn in fines from all personal and public firms who’ve filed accounts late since 2018-19, in response to a parliamentary query requested by Labour MP Phil Brickell.
Craig Beaumont from the Federation of Small Companies mentioned: “We all know that some small corporations are closely indebted with pre-pandemic business debt and [Covid-era] bounce again loans.”
The bounce again mortgage (BBL) scheme was launched in Might 2020. It focused the smallest companies, providing loans of as much as £50,000 — or 25 per cent of annual turnover — to assist them keep afloat in the course of the pandemic.
Dudley famous that non-filing by “ghost firms” fashioned in the course of the pandemic to obtain bounce again loans may clarify among the rise.
As much as £47bn of bounce again loans have been issued, with out necessary credit score checks for debtors. The federal government supplied a 100 per cent assure for the loans if companies have been unable to repay.
The Home of Commons Public Accounts Committee estimated in April 2022 that as much as £17bn of bounce again loans would by no means be recovered, with £4.9bn being misplaced to fraud.
Brickell, a member of the All Get together Parliamentary Group for Anti-Corruption and Accountable Tax mentioned: “Firms Home should be sure that submitting deadlines don’t proceed to be flouted on the worrying scale we’re at present seeing.”
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “This authorities is dedicated to defending taxpayers’ pursuits, which is why we’ve got appointed a Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner to scrutinise Covid spending.
“We’ll use each means doable to recoup public cash misplaced in pandemic-related fraud.”
In at this time’s hyper-connected world, your LinkedIn profile is greater than only a resume — it serves as your first impression, an in depth enterprise card, and a networking powerhouse all rolled into one. However most individuals aren’t utilizing LinkedIn to its full potential. To draw alternatives, increase your affect, and construct a community centered on mutual help and success, it’s time to get strategic. Right here’s easy methods to develop your connections on LinkedIn.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile For Networking
Your LinkedIn profile is the place you inform the world about your private model and profession aspirations. This is how to verify it stands out and encourages individuals to attach with you.
Supercharge Your About
Your About is your alternative to inform your story, and it’ll doubtless be the most-read model of your bio. To make it a software for increasing your community, finish with a Name-to-Motion (CTA), by giving individuals a motive to attach. Make your final sentence sound one thing like this: “When you’d like to attach and trade concepts on [topics]
, be happy to ship me a request — I’d love to listen to from you!”
Make Your Headline Work More durable
What you embody in your headline impacts the way you present up in a search on key phrases in LinkedIn. To get extra individuals to examine you out (and finally join with you), embody all related key phrases. For instance, as an alternative of simply itemizing your title, HR Studying Marketing consultant, increase your headline to incorporate all applicable key phrases, like HR Marketing consultant, Studying and Improvement Chief, enthusiastic about Management Improvement and Expertise Improvement.
Use Your Background Picture to Immediate Connection
Your banner or background is untapped prime actual property. As a substitute of utilizing the default grey/inexperienced background LinkedIn offers, which is boring, or a typical inventory picture, which might be trite, flip your background right into a call-to-action. Design a customized banner utilizing instruments like Canva to ask viewers to attach: When you imagine studying is an important ability for leaders at this time, like I do, let’s join.
Improve Your Communications Past LinkedIn
When constructing your LinkedIn connections, look past LinkedIn. Right here’s easy methods to amplify your community throughout all communication channels by making it simple for individuals to attach with you.
Digital and Reside Displays
Embrace a QR Code and hyperlink to your profile in all of the stay and digital shows you ship and the related conferences you attend. Add it to your closing slide so individuals can join with you on the spot.
E-mail Signature
Flip each e-mail right into a networking alternative. Beneath your signoff, embody a call-to-action to attach on LinkedIn. The easier you make it for individuals to attach, the extra doubtless they’ll add themselves to your group.
Movies
Whether or not it is YouTube, webinars, or quick video clips, flip your movies into connection magnets. Embrace a QR code and direct hyperlink to your profile. Add it to the nook of your video so viewers can scan it whereas they watch. As well as, finish your movies with an announcement like, “Need extra insights like this? Join with me on LinkedIn!”
Develop Your LinkedIn Community
Now that your profile is prepared and you’ve got network-enabled different communications, it’s time to supercharge your community on the platform. Right here’s easy methods to develop your group quickly and strategically.
Settle for All Pending Connection Requests
When you’re like most individuals, you don’t all the time settle for connection requests quickly after receiving them. Rise up to this point. Go to My Community and settle for all applicable requests. Ignore irrelevant invitations like e-newsletter subscriptions. Then, get all of your individuals into your LinkedIn community. Reverse-sort your e-mail and discover individuals out of your previous who aren’t LinkedIn connections. Then, attain out to attach on LinkedIn.
Join with Everybody at Your Firm
Ship connection requests to everybody at your group (sure, everybody!). Ship a message to allow them to know why you’re connecting and problem them to attach with everybody as properly. Though some individuals suppose it’s necessary to deal with solely individuals outdoors their firm, there’s worth to everybody being linked.
Use the Mutual Contact Technique
While you use LinkedIn’s “Connections of…” filter, it’s like having a heat result in a brand new connection.Look by your connections for individuals with 10+ mutual connections.Then, ship them a connection request like this:“I observed we’ve many connections in frequent. I’d love so as to add you to my community as properly.”
Increase Your Connections Technique
To assist individuals to search out you and encourage them to attach with you, create participating content material that pulls them in. Right here’s easy methods to make your LinkedIn posts be just right for you.
Begin with a Collection
Publish weekly ideas or quotes that assist you to share your experience and specific your viewpoint. Collection are useful as a result of they create a daily cadence and help you reference varied episodes of the sequence.
Create Polls and Ask Questions
Polls get individuals speaking, and LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards it. Make your polls and questions visible to draw extra eyeballs. Only a PowerPoint slide with a colour background will likely be extra interesting than a query that’s simply textual content. After individuals interact, ship them a follow-up message inviting them to attach.
Interact With Others’ Content material
Content material engagement is a two-way avenue. To get observed, you should work together with others’ content material.
Touch upon Viral Posts
Discover viral posts in your area of interest. Depart a remark that’s genuine and provides worth (not simply “Nice put up!”). Then, use the two-sentence rule. Reward the creator, then add your perspective. Be considerate and actual and will probably be acknowledged.
Like, Reply, Touch upon, and Share Goal Profiles
Determine 10-20 individuals you’d like to have in your community. Then, interact with their posts recurrently when you could have one thing significant so as to add. After constant interplay, ship a connection request with a private notice. “I’ve loved following your posts on [topic] and want to join immediately.”
LinkedIn isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it platform. It’s a residing, respiration ecosystem. By optimizing your profile, utilizing good communication methods, and actively constructing your community, you may flip LinkedIn into a strong useful resource for growing visibility, connection, and alternative. While you implement these methods, you received’t simply have a profile — you’ll have a magnet for alternatives, mutually useful relationships, and model constructing.
As a pioneer in private branding and knowledgeable in digital communication, William Arruda empowers professionals to shine on-line. Be part of his free webinar: Ship Fascinating Digital Displays and Conferences on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2025 at 12pm ET.
The DJ, 46, revealed whereas being interviewed on New 12 months’s Eve Reside with Andy Cohen & Anderson Cooper on Tuesday, Dec. 31, that he was at the moment tripping on LSD to shocked co-hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
In a video posted by Pop Crave on X (previously Twitter), Cohen, 56, requested Diplo as he appeared on the particular by video transmission, “What’s essentially the most standard place that you simply’ve finished LSD?” Diplo responded, “Proper now.”
“Proper now?” Cohen exclaimed as Cooper, 57, burst out laughing.
“Yeah, I did some on the helicopter, on the way in which right here,” replied Diplo as Cooper keeled over in additional suits of giggles. “I’m not even mendacity,” he added.
“Oh my God, maintain on … please inform me — You’re tripping proper now?” Cohen mentioned.
“Yeah, however it’s like a lightweight journey,” Diplo shared. He defined that he was “microdosing” and that he might have “macrodosed” earlier within the day, per The Hollywood Reporter.
PEOPLE has reached out to Diplo for remark.
Cooper praised the music producer following the interview, saying per the outlet, “I want I used to be Diplo. I acquired to say. I simply assume he has a enjoyable, cool way of life. Are you able to think about his way of life? ‘I’m Diplo. I do issues.’ ”
The presenter shared that he hadn’t been following Diplo on Instagram earlier than the interview — however he’ll now. “I’m completely going to start out,” Cooper mentioned, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I imply … I really feel unhealthy about my very own boring life in comparison with Diplo’s. He’s acquired helicopters and he’s like doing issues.”
The co-host added that Diplo “did like 4 photographs whereas we had been speaking,” saying in admiration, “And he’s going to play. How does he work? How does anyone do something? I’ve had 4 photographs. I simply need to fall asleep.”
Diplo’s look on CNN’s NYE particular comes as he additionally carried out three exhibits in Los Angeles on New 12 months’s Eve. The DJ posted a number of movies on his Instagram Tales of his exhibits at Avalon Hollywood by which he appeared unfazed by his partakings from earlier within the day.
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Diplo’s LSD confession comes after he spoke about discovering his exercise on TikTok “cringey” in an interview with The Wall Avenue Journal‘s Katherine Finnerty at Journal Home at Cannes Lions printed on June 19.
“For me as a musician… I am additionally a DJ/producer — I wasn’t a model. While you watch Doja Cat or Lil Nas X on their TikTok, they’re simply geniuses with it. They know the best way to work that medium so nicely,” he mentioned. “I am 45. After I make a TikTok I at all times assume it is fairly cringey what I am doing … Generally I make issues which might be humorous however it’s actually a youngster’s format.”
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