A new book talks about how President Joe Biden’s demand for loyalty made it hard for Kamala Harris to separate herself from his unpopular choices during her debate against Donald Trump in 2024. The book, FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, says Biden often told Harris to avoid showing differences in their views, similar to how he linked John McCain to George W. Bush back in 2008.
This control held back Harris’s campaign, as Biden’s team kept a close watch on her messages and even pushed aside her trusted advisor, Sean Clegg, when he suggested she should highlight her achievements instead of focusing on Biden’s past actions. After the election, the unsuccessful campaign of Harris and Tim Walz faced a lot of blame, with many people pointing fingers at Biden’s low approval ratings for hurting Harris’s chances.
Tensions grew as Biden’s staff kept Harris’s team from openly criticizing his record. Clegg’s advice to not focus on Biden’s past led to him being left out of important meetings by strategist Stephanie Cutter, which caused a bigger divide between Harris’s supporters and Biden’s inner circle. Critics say that this lack of freedom made it hard for Harris to create her own plan, making Biden’s policies a big problem for her campaign.
Author: Rasmita Jena
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Biden’s Loyalty Demands Stifle Harris’s Campaign Strategy
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Tragic Chapra Accident: 7 Lives Lost After SUV Crash
Kolkata: Tragedy struck in Chapra, Nadia district, West Bengal, on Friday when a terrible accident killed seven people, including two women and one child. Three others were hurt.
A big SUV was driving from Kalyani to Karimpur when it lost control and crashed into two e-rickshaws coming from the other direction. After the crash, the SUV flipped over and fell into a ditch by the side of the road. The police believe the driver and the passengers in the SUV had been drinking and were intoxicated during the accident, which happened around 11 am.
There were ten people in the two e-rickshaws. Sadly, seven of them died immediately, while three others were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The police have opened an investigation to find out more about the crash.
Fortunately, the driver and passengers of the SUV only received minor injuries. -
Master the NYT Connections Puzzle: Tips & Answers!
The New York Times has a fun daily word game called Connections. It is perfect for anyone who loves words and puzzles. In this game, players get 16 words every day. The goal is to divide these words into four groups, each with four words that have something in common.
In the March 14, 2025 puzzle, puzzle #642, you would find words that needed to be sorted by their themes. Here’s a little help to get you started with today’s categories:
– Yellow Group: Words related to penalties.
– Green Group: Items you might grab quickly while in line at the checkout.
– Blue Group: Different types of movie lengths.
– Purple Group: Words that go with “Road” in common sayings.
Answers for Puzzle #642
If you want to know the correct answers for the March 14 puzzle, here they are:
– Yellow: Assess, Charge, Fine, Levy (Words about penalties)
– Green: Candy, Chapstick, Charging Cable, Magazine (Impulse buys at checkout)
– Blue: Epic, Feature, Film Series, Short (Different movie lengths)
– Purple: Dirt, High, Rocky, Silk (Words that go with “Road”)
Tips for Solving the Connections Puzzles
To improve at Connections, try these tips:
1. Look for Obvious Groups: Find words that clearly fit together, like synonyms, or items in the same category.
2. Eliminate Incorrect Groups: When you make a correct group, cross those words off your list to focus on the others.
3. Think Outside the Box: Some connections may not be obvious, so consider phrases or familiar pairings.
4. Learn from Your Mistakes: Each wrong guess helps you understand better for the next time.
Other NYT Games to Try
If you enjoy Connections, check out other fun games by The New York Times, such as:
– NYT Mini Crossword: A quick and fun crossword puzzle.
– Spelling Bee: Create as many words as you can from seven given letters.
– Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six tries.
– Strands: A unique word search game that uses zig-zag solutions.
FAQs
– What is the NYT Connections puzzle? It’s a daily word game from The New York Times where players group 16 words into four themed categories.
– What were the answers for March 14, 2025? They were about penalties, impulse buys, movie lengths, and “Road” phrases. -
UK Economy Faces Struggles: What It Means for Growth and Taxes
In January, the British economy shrank unexpectedly, creating challenges for Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves. Instead of growing, the economy, which is one of the largest in the world, fell by 0.1%. This is surprising because many experts thought it would grow a little after a solid increase of 0.4% in December.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the drop in the economy was mainly due to bad weather impacting industries like manufacturing and construction. However, the services sector, which makes up about 80% of the economy, performed well.
Despite being only a monthly report, which can change later, this decline highlights the difficulties faced by the Labour government that took charge last July after being out of power for 14 years. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that boosting the UK’s economic growth is his top priority over the next five years. Since the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the economy has struggled to grow.
Starmer wants to improve living standards and find money for public services. But with growth proving to be a challenge, the Labour Party’s popularity has dropped since they won the elections in July. Critics argue that Rachel Reeves has played a role in slowing down the economy by being too negative and increasing taxes, especially for businesses.
After the disappointing numbers for January, Reeves promised to improve the economy’s poor performance, saying the government would work harder to encourage growth. Recently, she proposed various plans to help, such as supporting a third runway at Heathrow Airport, creating a tech hub between Oxford and Cambridge, and rethinking the UK’s economic relationships after Brexit. She also mentioned the positive effects of increasing defense spending.
The decline in January is a tough situation for Reeves, especially with a budget statement to Parliament coming up on March 26. Since growth isn’t generating the expected tax money and borrowing costs are high, she may need to announce cuts in spending to stick to her budget rules. Mel Stride, a spokesperson for the main opposition Conservative Party, criticized the government for being a “growth killer,” blaming tax increases and proposed changes to employment rights. -
Holi and Jumma Celebrations in Sambhal: A Day of Peace and Harmony
In the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, people celebrated Holi peacefully despite stronger security. On the same day, Muslims also prayed during the second Friday of Ramadan at the Shahi Jama Masjid. Sambhal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vandana Mishra, reported that the Holi processions were joyful and safe, thanks to everyone’s cooperation. She mentioned that both Holi and Friday prayers went smoothly, emphasizing the message of peace in the area.
District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia noted that the community was happy and participating in Holi by sharing colors with each other. The local police and paramilitary forces were stationed to manage the crowd and ensure safety. Circle Officer Anuj Chowdhary shared that they were keeping an eye on the situation with foot patrols and drone surveillance.
Before the celebrations, Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq urged people from all communities to stay peaceful. He asked Hindus to enjoy Holi while being respectful of mosques and encouraged Muslims to pray at nearby mosques and avoid areas where colors were being thrown. He emphasized that his appeal was not out of fear, but to foster friendship and harmony among everyone in the community. -
Nadal on His Rivals: Why Federer Was Different from Djokovic
Rafael Nadal opened up about his exciting tennis career and rivalries in a recent podcast. Last year, he announced his retirement after winning 22 major titles, including a record 14 French Open trophies. With Nadal stepping away from the game, only Novak Djokovic remains from the famous “Big Three” of men’s tennis.
On Andy Roddick’s YouTube podcast, Nadal talked about his big rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He believes his matches against Federer were more interesting for fans. Nadal explained, “My rivalry with Roger was more exciting because it had clear strategies.” He liked battling against Federer’s strong forehand while trying to break down his backhand.
Nadal said, “When Roger was hitting well, he would beat me. When I played well, I won.” He mentioned that he had more success against Federer on clay courts, while it was tougher on hard courts.
When it comes to playing Djokovic, Nadal felt differently. He said their games are not the same, and there’s no clear plan when he plays against Djokovic. “Against Novak, I have to play my best for a long time,” he explained. Nadal praised Djokovic’s incredible ball control, calling him “the best” at handling the ball. He had to change his tactics against Djokovic, like using more slices and playing to the middle of the court instead of giving Djokovic too many angles.
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Shiv Sena Leader Shot Dead in Moga: Protests Erupt for Justice
In Moga, a Shiv Sena leader named Mangat Rai, also known as Manga, was shot and killed on Thursday night. He was the president of the local Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The attack happened when Manga stepped out of his house to buy groceries around 10 PM. Three strangers approached him and shot at him. Their first shot missed and hit a 12-year-old boy who was walking by. Manga quickly got on his motorcycle to escape, but the attackers chased him and shot him again. He was taken to the hospital but sadly, the doctors declared him dead.
The young boy who got hurt was taken to Moga Civil Hospital and then moved to a better hospital for treatment. Manga’s wife reported the attack, leading police to book six suspects and others who are still unknown. Investigations are ongoing. Although police think this may be due to a personal feud, Manga’s family insists he never had any enemies. His family and some local groups protested at Pratap Chowk, demanding justice and the arrest of those responsible. They shouted slogans against the government, blaming it for the poor safety situation in Punjab.
Manga’s daughter shared that her father left home around 8 PM to buy milk and she learned of his death around 11 PM. They want justice and are determined to seek it. In a separate but related incident, three men on motorcycles entered a salon that night and shot at the owner, Devender Kumar, injuring him in the leg. He was also treated at the hospital, where an investigation is taking place. -
Tamil Nadu Budget: A Strong Commitment to Education Despite Funding Cuts
On Friday, Tamil Nadu’s Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu shared the budget for the DMK government. There has been some disagreement about a new education plan called the National Education Policy (NEP), which includes a third language in schools. But the state government decided to use its own money to support government schools.
Thangam Thennarasu announced that the state will pay for things like teacher salaries to ensure that students in government schools get the education they need, even if the central government doesn’t provide money.
He emphasized that Tamil Nadu strongly supports teaching in two languages. Despite the challenges, such as not receiving ₹2,152 crores from the central government because of disagreements over the NEP, the state will continue to take care of its students.
The Finance Minister said that by sticking to the bilingual policy, Tamil Nadu is not only saving its Tamil culture but also helping its young people become good at English. This helps them succeed in today’s world.
The Minister also mentioned ongoing initiatives like the ‘Ennum Ezhuthum Thittam,’ which focuses on basic reading and writing skills, special education for children with disabilities, transport help for students in remote areas, teacher salaries, guidance for higher education, festivals for talents, trips for learning, and improving school facilities like internet access. -
iPhone 16e Sales Surge, But Challenges Loom in China Market
Apple has launched its new iPhone 16e, and it’s selling faster than the old iPhone SE from 2022. However, it might not help Apple much in China, where sales are expected to drop by about 2% this year. A research company called IDC found that the iPhone 16e sold 60% better in its first three days compared to the older model. But there’s tough competition from Android phones that are getting help from the Chinese government, which is giving out a lot of money to support Android brands like Xiaomi and Vivo.
The new iPhone 16e costs $599, while the older SE was only $429. This higher price makes it harder for Apple to compete with cheaper Android phones. The iPhone 16e has only one camera at the back, not much storage, and fewer smart features, which makes it less appealing in China.
The Chinese government has set aside about $41 billion to help boost the economy, which includes support for smartphone sales. Apple is also trying to bring more smart features to its devices in China later this year. Some analysts believe that Apple could sell more in other countries, like India, where they expect the 16e to account for about 20% of iPhone sales in the second half of the year.
Apple’s sales in China dropped by around 11% during the holiday season, mainly due to weak iPhone sales. Overall, the company thinks its revenue will only grow a little in this period. -
Indian AC Industry Poised for Growth Amid Supply Challenges
The Indian air conditioning (AC) market is off to a great start this summer, building on last season’s strong performance. After a tough time with shortages of important parts like compressors and copper in early this year, companies have found ways to solve these issues. They secured backup suppliers and are slowly but surely getting back on track.
The hot temperatures and more people having extra money to spend are making more folks want to buy ACs. It’s predicted that demand will grow by about 19% each year, which means there will be a bigger need for compressors and copper parts as well. Although there were some hiccups in production this January, many businesses managed their inventory well thanks to alternative sources, like Highly and GMCC. Some big names like LG and Daikin, which make their own compressors, are in a better spot.
To keep going, the industry is importing parts from places like Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, and they are hopeful about getting supplies from China soon. They also asked the government to extend some certifications until local manufacturers can meet the demand.
India is set to become a major player in electronics manufacturing soon, thanks to increasing local demand and better export opportunities. The electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry is growing, with many big companies planning to expand under a government program called PLI for white goods. Since the PLI scheme started, the local value of products has increased from 25% to 45%, and it’s expected to reach 60-70% by FY27 as even more parts are made locally. We anticipate a growth rate of 14% for the RAC industry from FY24 to FY27, mostly thanks to more people buying ACs and rising incomes.
Company Highlights:
– Voltas: Target price is Rs 1640 (current price Rs 1400) with an upside of 17%. In 3QFY25, Voltas had an 18% revenue increase to Rs 31.1 billion. Although one segment saw lower profit margins, the company is positive about the hot summer and expects strong growth ahead.
– Amber Enterprises: Target price is Rs 7800 (current price Rs 6340) with an upside of 23%. It saw a 65% revenue increase this quarter, driven mainly by its AC and electronics divisions. While the railway segment is facing delays, the company is ready to take advantage of increasing AC demand.
(Note: The author is the head of research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of thellv.news)