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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said federally required tallies taken across the country in January found more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless — a number that misses some people and does not include those staying with friends or family because they don't have a place of their own. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of COVID-19 pandemic assistance. The 2023 increase also was driven by people experiencing homelessness for the first time. The numbers overall represent 23 of every 10,000 people in the U.S., with Black people being overrepresented among the homeless population. "No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve," HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a statement, adding that the focus should remain on "evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness." Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness — one of the areas that was most affected by the arrival of migrants in big cities. Family homelessness more than doubled in 13 communities impacted by migrants including Denver, Chicago and New York City, according to HUD, while it rose less than 8% in the remaining 373 communities. Almost 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33% jump from last year. Disasters also played a part in the rise in the count, especially last year's catastrophic Maui wildfire, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. More than 5,200 people were in emergency shelters in Hawaii on the night of the count. "Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing," Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement. "As advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience have warned, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase as more people struggle to afford sky-high housing costs." Robert Marbut Jr., the former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from 2019 to 2021, called the nearly 33% increase in homelessness over the past four years "disgraceful" and said the federal government needs to abandon efforts to prioritize permanent housing. "We need to focus on treatment of substance use and mental illness, and bring back program requirements, like job training," Marbut said in an email. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The numbers also come as increasing numbers of communities are taking a hard line against homelessness. Angered by often dangerous and dirty tent camps, communities — especially in Western states — have enforced bans on camping. That follows a 6-3 ruling this summer by the Supreme Court that found outdoor sleeping bans don’t violate the Eighth Amendment. Homeless advocates argued that punishing people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness. There was some positive news in the count, as homelessness among veterans continued to trend downward. Homelessness among veterans dropped 8% to 32,882 in 2024. It was an even larger decrease for unsheltered veterans, declining 11% to 13,851 in 2024. "The reduction in veteran homelessness offers us a clear roadmap for addressing homelessness on a larger scale," Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. "With bipartisan support, adequate funding, and smart policy solutions, we can replicate this success and reduce homelessness nationwide. Federal investments are critical in tackling the country's housing affordability crisis and ensuring that every American has access to safe, stable housing." Several large cities had success bringing down their homeless numbers. Dallas, which worked to overhaul its homeless system, saw a 16% drop in its numbers between 2022 to 2024. Los Angeles, which increased housing for the homeless, saw a drop of 5% in unsheltered homelessness since 2023. California, the most populous state in the U.S., continued to have the nation's largest homeless population, followed by New York, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts. The sharp increase in the homeless population over the past two years contrasts with success the U.S. had for more than a decade. Going back to the first 2007 survey, the U.S. made steady progress for about a decade in reducing the homeless population as the government focused particularly on increasing investments to get veterans into housing. The number of homeless people dropped from about 637,000 in 2010 to about 554,000 in 2017. The numbers ticked up to about 580,000 in the 2020 count and held relatively steady over the next two years as Congress responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with emergency rental assistance, stimulus payments, aid to states and local governments and a temporary eviction moratorium.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words are a worrying sign of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Syrian insurgents are inside Aleppo in a major setback for Assad as government forces regroup BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have fanned out inside Syria's largest city Aleppo a day after storming it with little resistance from government troops. Syria's army said troops have redeployed to prepare for a counteroffensive. Witnesses said insurgents were seen Saturday at landmarks in Aleppo for the first time since 2016, when they were expelled by government forces backed by Russia and Iran. The surprise offensive is a major embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has regained total control of the city eight years ago. An Israeli strike in Gaza kills workers with World Central Kitchen charity DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed five people including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity says it is “urgently seeking more details” after Israel’s military said it targeted a WCK worker who had been part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity in an email says it is “heartbroken” by the airstrike and that it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, saying it is “working with incomplete information.” It says it is pausing operations in Gaza. Lebanese fisherman hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. How Brazilian police say Bolsonaro plotted a coup to stay in office SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office. The plot was allegedly comprised of several components and substantiated by evidence and testimony in the agency's 884-page report. The pieces of the puzzle include laying the groundwork by systematically sowing distrust of the electoral system among the populace. It also includes drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legal basis and pressuring top military brass to go along with the plan. Bolsonaro and his main allies have denied any wrongdoing or involvement and accuse authorities of political persecution. More than 100 arrested as Georgian police clash with protesters over suspension of EU talks TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — More than 100 demonstrators were arrested overnight in Georgia as protesters clashed with police following the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Friday marked the second straight night of protests after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension the previous day. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament building. The violence follows Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia's visiting defense chief. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday as international concerns about the two countries’ expanding cooperation deepened after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia. During a Friday meeting, Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on issues on how to further boost strategic partnership and defend each country’s sovereignty and security interests, state media said. Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest forecast to be hit with snow and dangerous cold into next week BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season is threatening to bury towns in New York along lakes Erie and Ontario as the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend winds down. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. A state of emergency was declared for parts of New York, making it problematic for scores of Thanksgiving travelers trying to return home. This week’s blast of frigid Arctic air also brought bitterly cold temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains. Cold air was expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday, the weather service said, with temperatures about 10 degrees below average.DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Kinkead Dent threw for 246 yards and ran for another 56 yards and a touchdown as UT Martin rolled to a 41-10 win over New Hampshire in an FCS first-round game on Saturday. The Skyhawks (9-4) advance to face unbeaten and top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. UT Martin's rushing game amassed 236 yards on 52 carries and five different backs reached the end zone. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks limited New Hampshire to 124 yards of total offense and held the Wildcats' run game to just 53 yards on 16 carries. Rashad Raymond scored from 4-yards out midway through the first quarter to put UT Martin on the board first and All-Big South/OVC first-team running back Patrick Smith added a 3-yard scoring run in the second to take a 17-7 lead. Dent capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive by nosing in from the 2 and Jaren Van Winkle kicked field goals from 30- and 36-yards to make it 24-7 at intermission. Trevonte Rucker scored from the 4 to start the fourth quarter and Glover Cook III punched in from the 1 to complete the scoring. Dent Completed 17 of 26 passes without an interception. Rucker caught nine passes for 98 yards and DeVonte Tanksley caught four for 81, including a 56-yard reception. Smith carried 15 times for 71 yards. Glover had 12 carries for 56. Seth Morgan was held to 14 of 35 passing with an interception for New Hampshire (8-5). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Wow: It turns out the National Archives and Records Administration has been holding onto photographic proof of then-Veep Joe Biden promoting Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China for all these years that Joe has been insisting he did no such thing . Yes: NARA had pics of Hunter and Joe meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping and with multiple execs of BHR Partners, a Chinese state-backed company aligned with Xi’s global Belt and Road Initiative — a company then in the process of being co-launched by Hunter. That is: The sitting vice president was using his office to promote his son’s ambitions to earn tens of millions promoting the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. And the only thing Hunter ever had to sell was access to Joe, meaning his dad was advertising that he was indirectly for sale, you just needed to pay his son. This was the fundamental takeaway of The Post’s reporting off of Hunter’s laptop back in October 2020. But that news was significantly suppressed by media and social-media companies that chose to believe “the laptop is Russian disinformation” — which was itself a disinformation op by the Biden campaign (abetted by months of setup by federal “disinformation experts”). And so the American people elected a president who’d effectively sold out years before to China, now our top global rival. A man whose entire approach to politics and government is utterly transactional — a fact long- and well-known in Washington, but ignored and concealed by power players who found Joe useful, including former President Barack Obama. All of whom, along with most of the media, were desperate to unseat then-President Donald Trump. Even now, with Trump headed back to the White House and Biden’s political career ended months ago, NARA only coughed up the photos in response to litigation by the Trump-allied America First Legal Foundation, which filed for the info back in September 2022. “Lawyers and representatives for President Biden and President Obama delayed NARA’s release of these photos — as they did with other critical records — until after Election Day,” write AFL’s Stephen Miller. America won’t have to worry about Joe Biden’s corruption after Jan. 20, but the nation still needs to face the corruption of all those who covered for him.
NEW DELHI — India’s Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the in the Parliament’s Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. Related Articles In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters.Walmart’s mega “Black Friday Deals” sale is coming to a close, but there’s still time to score major savings on those holiday gifts online now. The Walmart “Black Friday Deals” sale will end early on Sunday, Dec. 1 , giving you a few more hours to snag markdowns up to 70% off in some of the best deals of the year from Walmart. This includes big discounts on those hot-ticket electronic devices , essential kitchen appliances , stylish fashion and top toys . Walmart rolled out this big “Black Friday Deals” sale on Nov. 11, splitting the event into two sales that were featured online and in stores. It also gave exclusive online access to Walmart+ members five hours before the general public for a first chance at the best deals. As the second of Walmart’s “Black Friday Deals” sale , this holiday shopping event kicked off on Nov. 25 and will come to a close just before Walmart rolls out online-only deals for Cyber Monday on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. ET with exclusive online access for Walmart+ members at 8 p.m. ET. The Cyber Monday deals will run until midnight ET on Dec. 2. But before this Cyber Monday sale arrives, you can shop the mega discounts Walmart is still offering now on TVs , wireless headphones , smartwatches , vacuums , cookware , grills and griddles , gaming consoles and more. Shop Walmart’s Black Friday sale To help you find the best deals, here’s a roundup of some of our favorites that you can still grab from Walmart’s “Black Friday Deals” sale before it ends today. Shop for more markdowns during Walmart’s Black Friday sale here. The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .
Remember Y2K? It was 1999 and many were sure civilization was about to end
Manmohan Singh combined courage, vision & humilityBreaking his silence on the bribery allegations from U.S. authorities, Adani Group's founder Gautam Adani expressed his commitment to maintaining world-class regulatory compliance despite the charges. He addressed the public for the first time since accusations arose concerning a $265 million bribery scheme within his ports-to-power empire. The accusations have had far-reaching effects, prompting one Indian state to reconsider a power agreement while making France's TotalEnergies put a hold on investments. This mounting controversy has also stirred political upheaval in India's parliament. Despite the heavy impact where $34 billion was initially lost in market value, Adani Group's stocks have gradually rallied as partners and investors continue to back the conglomerate. Adani dismisses the allegations as unfounded and vows to pursue all legal avenues to fortify the group's resolve. (With inputs from agencies.)Photo provided by Adobe Stock One of the main goals of a business is to bring in more customers each year. Still, even when you’re gaining new clients, you could be simultaneously losing existing ones. Clients end their contracts or look elsewhere for a variety of reasons, some of which are completely out of your control. When you lose a client, you need to remember to keep your head up high and try to learn from it. Keep reading to learn about how to bounce back after losing a client in your fourth quarter and what you can do to maintain a professional outlook. Quarter 4 is when most companies take the time to look at the work they accomplished over the year and use it to inform the next quarter’s decisions. Many CEOs will begin preparing for budget cuts or start to reimagine their marketing strategies. “We still have a lot of time on the clock. Q4 is an opportunity to make the most of that time — to make the big play that can define this year and create momentum for the year ahead,” explains Michael McFall , Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. By Q4, businesses have an idea of what the immediate future is going to look like. The data gathered from Q4 will help you make changes as you enter a new year. You need to understand where your business saw success and failure to move forward in Q1. Especially in regard to losing clients, you want to get to the source of the problem to avoid future departures and fill any gaps. “Finding where you might have gone wrong in the past will keep the road ahead clear. You need to gather information to inform your next decisions, and looking through each quarter to follow your financial and marketing trends helps to make sense of any trends,” says Bob Craycraft, CEO of Cadence . Wrapping up your year by looking back at your business performance is an effective way to map out the year ahead. It helps remind you of your previous year’s goals and helps to identify your top priorities heading into the next quarter. Losing clients is a natural part of running a business, but the goal is to minimize your losses and instead come up with new ways to bring in new customers. Involving your entire team will help you identify the reasons a client left your business, giving you fresh perspectives on how to prevent future losses. The following are 10 different ways to bounce back and be prepared for the future. 1. Plan for Loss Don’t let your business rely on one or two major clients to stay afloat. Every year, you must assume you are going to lose some of your clients, as a customer could decide to look elsewhere at any time. Preparing for unexpected losses is going to be a necessary part of your Q1 strategy. “Good CEOs ensure that their companies have an effective risk operating model, governance structure, and risk culture,” writes Carolyn Dewar , Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. If you are prepared for loss, it shouldn’t come as a huge shock — and it shouldn’t completely up-root your business plans. When you have a plan in place, you won’t need to scramble to bounce back after the loss of a client. 2. Have a Conversation With the Client Whether you are a small business or run a large corporation, you need to know why you’ve lost your client. Doing an exit interview of sorts helps you understand their reasoning, allowing you to make any needed changes. “Sometimes, a client leaving has nothing to do with you. This is just as important to know as it may stop you from making rash decisions and changes to your business plan. Speaking with your client is going to clear things up and give you an idea of where you need to implement improvements,” explains Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, a company known for their safer smart watch for kids , the Bark Watch. If a client informs you of their departure ahead of the end of their contract, you’ll likely have the opportunity to speak to them. It’s an effective way to help them leave on a positive note and to gather important data. It’s important to not take things too personally and to use any feedback as a way to improve your business. 3. Don’t Burn Bridges You don’t want to end a customer relationship in a negative way. Word gets around with clients who felt they weren’t treated well at the end of a working relationship, so there are many reasons to be considerate. “Sometimes you have to take a hit with your head high. You may have lost a client but you don’t want to completely burn the bridge. You never know how your connection to that client could lead you into new opportunities,” shares Kim Wileman, Founder and CEO of No Makeup Makeup . Often, ending a business relationship is not meant to be personal. It’s not in your control who stays and who goes, but you don’t ever want to end a relationship negatively. 4. Debrief the Team Every business experiences client loss. Letting your team know about the situation will make bouncing back a lot easier. When everyone is on the same page, you can begin to find solutions entering into Q1. “The Q4 is all about debriefing. From marketing plans to changes in clientele, you should be sharing these changes with your team. The faster everyone is made aware, the easier it is to come up with a plan on how to prevent these losses in the future,” explains Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of ByStadium . Try to develop a clear plan that tackles the reasons for your client’s departure. Choose goals for the next quarter that are tangible action items team members can actively work towards. 5. Reconsider Marketing Tactics Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Instead of trying to regain clients you’ve lost, focus your energy on improving your marketing tactics to bring new clients into your business. “While client retention is important, finding new leads helps ease the pain of occasional losses. You should spend as much time revamping your marketing campaigns to entice new clients as you spend working to keep existing ones,” says Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble, a company that specializes in washable rugs . Improving your outreach through social media, hosting events for your clients, or even starting a newsletter for returning clients helps bring traffic to your site. Your Q4 wrap-up should have a brainstorming session to come up with new marketing ideas. 6. Reallocate Your Budget Even losing just one customer can make you rethink how and where you spend your business’s money. You may want to rearrange your efforts to focus on marketing, customer relationships, and branding. Q4 is an effective time to start thinking about these financial changes so you can begin to implement them in Q1. “When your goal is to retain customers and to bring new ones in, where you spend your money will be constantly changing. Plus, if you’re able to follow the trends, you can easily adapt and stay within your budget while also being effective at meeting your goals,” suggests Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce . Each quarter you should be going over your budget and making necessary changes, but the end of the year is great to reestablish what is important. 7. Send Out a Satisfaction Survey Photo provided by Adobe Stock Coming up with ways to keep your customers happy before they consider looking elsewhere for business is key. Asking them directly how they feel about your services, what they’d like to see done differently and what they specifically like will guide your first-quarter decisions. “Each quarter, anyone who has been a client should receive an email that links out to a survey about the business. It covers everything that you could think to be important,” says Madeline Edwards, Head of Content at Dose, a company known for their liver health supplements . “This is the most direct way to understand what you need to do better and minimizes your losses at the end of the year.” Keep up with this kind of data to track your progress throughout the year. If you lose clients at the end of Q4, you’ll have months of data to help identify where things went wrong. 8. Evaluate Fit Issues Sometimes, it has nothing to do with your business. While you might take a client's loss personally, you and the client might just not fit together anymore. “You can’t force a relationship that isn’t going to work. If the relationship no longer serves its function, why force it? Some relationships just end, and that’s okay,” explains George Fraguio, Vice President of Bridge Lending at Vaster . Parts of your company may have evolved and the client no longer has use for it. Additionally, a client may have altered their own needs and no longer need help from an outside source. The best step to take is maintaining a good relationship afterward. 9. Assess Your Competition Staying up to date with the competition is always going to be important for small businesses. Knowing how your competitors are doing informs you on what moves to make for your own business. “When a new business opens up that rivals your services, you are going to want to start taking notes on them. Knowing their strategies makes it easier to understand why they might be taking some of your clients or at least causing heads to turn,” shares Brianna Bitton, Co-Founder of O Positiv, a company known for their MENO menopause supplements . Use the time in Q4 to take these notes and then find ways to implement them into your strategy in the new year. You’re going to want to compete with other businesses to show clients you’re still the right choice. 10. Keep the Door Open Don’t let a lost client completely sever a connection. Businesses often build relationships with their clients over time, which can make losing them feel even harder. “If a client is changing their path, make sure they leave knowing they have the ability to come back and work with you in the future,” explains Anthony Tivnan, President and Co-Founder of Magellan Jets, a company known for their jet card flights. You never know when a client will need you again, so you don’t want to end on a negative note. Maintaining positive energy through a loss shows your character, and clients will take notice. Losing clients is never easy, but you can turn every loss into a learning experience. Utilize your company’s data to understand where your weaknesses are and work towards strengthening them as you head into Q1. Make sure to treat all clients — current and past — with respect. You never know when your good karma will come back to you!
How Kenya’s VunaPay is addressing the issue of delayed payments for smallholder farmersThiruvananthapuram, Nov 30 (IANS): Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, has said that Kerala's startup ecosystem has become a glittering jewel in the crown of India's fast-growing startup landscape by demonstrating its prowess in innovation, inventiveness, sustainability, and inclusiveness. Tharoor, a four-time Lok Sabha MP, said this while speaking at the Huddle Global 2024, India's flagship startup conclave, here on Saturday. Tharoor, an eminent writer, former diplomat, and thought leader, titled his address "The Elephant that is becoming a tiger: India's Startup Ecosystem and tech entrepreneurship", an obvious reference to his book "The Elephant, the Tiger & the Cellphone". While hailing the achievements of Kerala's startup ecosystem, Tharoor said the state needs to further streamline regulatory compliances and procedures to enable aspirational entrepreneurs to start enterprises, attract capital, and grow faster. "We need to simplify and streamline regulatory compliances and procedures by dismantling the oppressive red tape," he added. Tracing the evolution of the Indian startup ecosystem, the Congress leader said this was the time to think about making a single imaginative leap to add greater momentum to what has been achieved. "The elephant is becoming a tiger as startups symbolise industriousness, innovation, and inventiveness, playing a vital role in the remarkable transformation of the country," Tharoor added. He also said that while coming out with novel and ingenious solutions, the startups have also shown that everything is reusable and re-imaginable. "The surge of entrepreneurial culture also helped to turn India from a country of job-seekers to a job-creating economy, though it is a paradox that increasing unemployment has sharpened the youth's entrepreneurial spirit," he added. Lauding Kerala Startup Mission for positioning its flagship startup festival into a major event that brings together the entire spectrum of stakeholders, Tharoor said "it is amazing" that a lot of products from robots, home automation, and medical technology from the startups are displayed here.
Farmers' Punjab Bandh today disrupts traffic and rail services, with 150 trains cancelled and road blockages. Punjab Bandh Today: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced a complete bandh on Monday in the state and assured that the required emergency services will remain functional. The call for a total shutdown has gained support from a wide range of groups, including traders, transporters, employee unions, toll plaza workers, labourers, ex-servicemen, sarpanches, teachers' unions, and various social organisations. The bandh was announced last week by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), who have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13. Earlier, security forces had stopped their march to Delhi. Here Is The Key Updates Of Punjab Bandh - The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm. - The Railways cancelled 150 trains on Monday due to a Punjab bandh called by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. - Protesters plan to block rail tracks (rail roko) at several locations from 7 am to 4 pm, disrupting both passenger and goods trains. - Farmers blocked roads at several locations across the state as part of their Punjab bandh call which resulted a traffic disruptions. - Farmers staged a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, disrupting vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.US sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling political partyAkola: Five persons suffered minor injuries after a private bus carrying 49 persons fell off a bridge into a dry riverbed in Akola district of Maharashtra on Thursday evening, police said. The incident occurred around 7 pm on the bridge over Bhikund river in Balapur taluka, they said. “The private bus was going from Bhusawal (in Jalgaon district) to Washim when it fell off the bridge. A total of 49 passengers were travelling in it and five of them suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the incident,” a police official said. The driver lost control and the vehicle fell into the dry riverbed due to the absence of a guardrail on the bridge. Soon after being alerted, local citizens rushed to the spot. The police and other authorities carried out a rescue operation with their help, he said. The injured passengers were later admitted to a government hospital in the district, the official said.
The chief marketing officer and the chief technology and product officer of Ola Electric Mobility Limited resigned today, the company said in a regulatory filing. "With reference to the captioned subject and mentioned reference, we hereby inform you that Mr. Anshul Khandelwal, Chief Marketing Officer, and Mr. Suvonil Chatterjee, Chief Technology and Product Officer, have tendered their resignation with effect from December 27, 2024," the company in a letter to BSE and NSE. Both Anshul Khandelwal and Suvonil Chatterjee have cited personal reasons for their resignation. "I am writing to formally resign from my position as the Chief Marketing Officer at Ola Electric, effective immediately, December 27th, 2024. It has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for the opportunities to contribute to Ola's inspiring vision. However, due to personal reasons, I request to be relieved of my duties effective today," said Khandewal in his resignation. Also read: Ola Electric may lay off 500 workers as company faces financial challenges: Report Chatterjee thanked Ola's management and employees for “love and support”. "Formally sending in my resignation effective today. It has been a privilege to be a part of this amazing journey. I want to thank everyone at Ola for their support and love. Wishing you, Bhavish and the entire Ola family the very best," he wrote. Also read: Ola Electric's dominance fades as Indian e-scooter battle intensifies Ola Electric expands store network Ola Electric on Wednesday said it has expanded its network to 4,000 stores nationwide, a four-fold increase from its existing network. The company has opened over 3,200 new stores co-located with service facilities. The expansion spans beyond metros and Tier I and II cities into smaller towns and tehsils, Ola Electric said in a statement. "With our newly opened stores co-located with service centres, we have completely redefined EV purchase and ownership experience, setting new benchmarks with our #SavingsWalaScooter campaign," Ola Electric Chairman & Managing Director Bhavish Aggarwal said. With inputs from PTI
10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said. The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.