Category: USA

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.

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.

Brad Pitt is starting a new chapter in his life now that his long divorce from Angelina Jolie is finally over. Sources say the 61-year-old actor feels great both in his personal life and in his new romance. Pitt’s relationship with 31-year-old jewelry designer Ines de Ramon is going well.

Divorce Wrapped Up After Eight Years

Brad and Angelina signed their divorce papers in December 2023, officially ending an eight-year battle that began when Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016. Although they were declared single in 2019, they fought over things like child custody, dividing their belongings, and their French winery, Château Miraval. With everything settled, Pitt is relieved and looking forward to moving on.

An insider shared that Brad is happy to finally be done with the divorce and is focused on having a peaceful life with his family.

Pitt’s Romance with Ines De Ramon Blooms

Brad and Ines were first spotted together at a concert in late 2022. They kept their relationship private but made their first public appearance together at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Sources say they are in a great place together, and life is good for both of them.

A Positive Influence on Pitt

Friends say that Ines has been a stable and supportive person in Brad’s life. Another insider mentioned that Pitt is really into Ines and appreciates having her by his side. She is calm and helps him deal with the public spotlight.

Other Celebs Finding Love Again

Many celebrities are also finding love recently. Gigi Hadid confirmed her relationship with actor Bradley Cooper, calling it “very romantic and happy” because of the support he gives her. Camila Cabello is also in a new relationship with billionaire Henry Jr Chalhoub after being seen vacationing together.

FAQs

When did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finalize their divorce?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie signed their divorce agreement in December 2023, ending their long legal battle.

Who is Ines de Ramon?
Ines de Ramon is a jewelry designer who was previously married to actor Paul Wesley and began dating Brad Pitt in late 2022.

Brad Pitt is starting a new chapter in his life now that his long divorce from Angelina Jolie is finally over. Sources say the 61-year-old actor feels great both in his personal life and in his new romance. Pitt’s relationship with 31-year-old jewelry designer Ines de Ramon is going well.

Divorce Wrapped Up After Eight Years

Brad and Angelina signed their divorce papers in December 2023, officially ending an eight-year battle that began when Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016. Although they were declared single in 2019, they fought over things like child custody, dividing their belongings, and their French winery, Château Miraval. With everything settled, Pitt is relieved and looking forward to moving on.

An insider shared that Brad is happy to finally be done with the divorce and is focused on having a peaceful life with his family.

Pitt’s Romance with Ines De Ramon Blooms

Brad and Ines were first spotted together at a concert in late 2022. They kept their relationship private but made their first public appearance together at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Sources say they are in a great place together, and life is good for both of them.

A Positive Influence on Pitt

Friends say that Ines has been a stable and supportive person in Brad’s life. Another insider mentioned that Pitt is really into Ines and appreciates having her by his side. She is calm and helps him deal with the public spotlight.

Other Celebs Finding Love Again

Many celebrities are also finding love recently. Gigi Hadid confirmed her relationship with actor Bradley Cooper, calling it “very romantic and happy” because of the support he gives her. Camila Cabello is also in a new relationship with billionaire Henry Jr Chalhoub after being seen vacationing together.

FAQs

When did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finalize their divorce?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie signed their divorce agreement in December 2023, ending their long legal battle.

Who is Ines de Ramon?
Ines de Ramon is a jewelry designer who was previously married to actor Paul Wesley and began dating Brad Pitt in late 2022.

Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend John Miller are facing problems in their relationship. This happened after a recent photo of Jennifer and her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, went viral. People began to wonder if Jennifer and John’s relationship could survive this tension.

Jennifer says she and Ben are just focused on co-parenting their kids. However, John feels uncomfortable and has supposedly given Jennifer an ultimatum, feeling like a “third wheel” in her life with Ben.

Jennifer started dating tech CEO John Miller in 2018, shortly after her divorce from Ben. Lately, John has been worried because he sees Jennifer getting closer to Ben. He wants her to pull back from their friendship.

The photo that caused the stir was taken during their son Samuel’s birthday celebration on March 2, where Ben and Jennifer were seen laughing and having fun at a paintball game. Many people started talking about whether Ben and Jennifer might get back together.

John felt upset about this because he wants to be the main focus in Jennifer’s life. Even though he has always supported the co-parenting arrangement with Ben, he now feels like there’s too much connection between Jennifer and Ben, especially since they spend holidays together. He told Jennifer he won’t accept it if he sees anything like that again.

Conclusion: While Jennifer and Ben insist they are just co-parenting, John is increasingly worried about their relationship, and only time will tell if they can work things out.

In 2025, the United Kingdom will honor the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with four days of celebrations from May 5 to May 8. These events will include a military parade, planes flying overhead, concerts, and a special service at Westminster Abbey.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy mentioned that on this important day, people will get a chance to hear stories from veterans to remember and reflect on their contributions.

Will There Be a New Bank Holiday?

Despite the special nature of this anniversary, the government has confirmed that there will be no new bank holiday. According to reports from NiftyStat, this decision was made in November 2024. A spokesperson explained that the celebrations will take place along with the existing Early May Bank Holiday on May 5.

The government plans to spend over £10 million on these celebrations. An official said, while this anniversary is important, an extra day off could disrupt businesses and public services. So, the holiday schedule will stay the same, and the Early May Bank Holiday will be the main day for VE Day events.

The Four Days of VE Day Celebrations

The celebrations will be as follows:

May 5: A parade will march down Whitehall, featuring military formations and a special flypast by RAF planes, including the famous Red Arrows. The Cenotaph and HMS Belfast will be decorated with Union Jacks, and there will be a street party.

May 6: A display of ceramic poppies will be at the Tower of London to honor those who died in the war, and famous buildings across the UK will light up at night.

May 7: There will be a Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert at Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster.

May 8: The final day includes a memorial service at Westminster Abbey, followed by a grand concert at Horse Guards Parade, expected to attract around 10,000 people.

No Extra Bank Holiday for VE Day Why80?

The government decided against having an extra bank holiday due to economic reasons. They believe an additional day off could hurt businesses and public services.

The 2025 bank holiday dates will be:

– Good Friday: April 18
– Easter Monday: April 21
– Early May Bank Holiday: May 5
– Spring Bank Holiday: May 26
– Summer Bank Holiday: August 25
– Christmas Day: December 25
– Boxing Day: December 26

These upcoming celebrations are expected to be grand, especially since the last time the UK celebrated VE Day, in 2020, was limited due to COVID-19. This year, many living veterans and groups like the Royal British Legion will be involved in the events, while promoting community participation.

Former President Donald Trump is stepping in to address a wave of job cuts happening in U.S. federal departments. This situation is happening because of a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which aimed to save money by reducing staff.

Many lawmakers and federal workers are unhappy with the layoffs, so Trump has told DOGE to focus on keeping the most productive employees. He wants to make sure that people who truly contribute value to the government stay in their jobs.

During a meeting at the White House, Trump spoke with key advisors, including Elon Musk, who leads DOGE. Trump suggested that the layoffs might have been too severe, and he wants a more careful approach. Instead of making broad cuts, he believes they should be more thoughtful.

After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying that as secretaries get to know their teams better, they will be able to make better decisions about who to keep and who to let go. The idea is to cut only unneeded positions while retaining valuable workers.

Russian officials have made it very clear to British, French, and German troops: if NATO forces go into Ukraine, there will be serious consequences. Politicians in Moscow are strongly against the idea of Western troops being sent to Ukraine, claiming it could lead to huge losses for European forces.

Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian government official, poked fun at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for even thinking about sending troops. He challenged Starmer to send troops to Russia if he thinks it’s so easy. Rogozin made jokes about British soldiers, suggesting they would be easy targets for Russian forces, and reminded everyone of past battles where British troops faced defeat against Russia.

Another Russian military officer, Major General Alaudinov, agreed with Rogozin, saying Western countries would not be as strong as Ukraine in a fight. He argued that even if NATO could manage to send 50,000 soldiers, they would still struggle against the tough Russian military. Alaudinov stated that Russia could quickly draft up to two million soldiers if needed and warned that if NATO enters Ukraine, Europe would face great destruction. He expressed that Russia is ready to endure hardships for victory and believes that history shows Russia has always been unbeaten in battles.

In short, Russia is sending a strong message: do not challenge its military power.

Tesla’s sales in Germany dropped a shocking 76% in February, which is even worse than a 60% drop in January, according to Germany’s road traffic agency. This is a big worry for Tesla, especially since Germany is one of its most important markets. Meanwhile, sales of all electric vehicles in Germany actually went up by 30.8%.

Troubles Across Europe

It seems that Tesla is struggling not just in Germany, but also across Europe. Sales in France fell by 26%, and in countries like Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, the drop was between 42% and almost 50%. However, in the UK, Tesla managed to increase its sales by 20%, but its overall market share still went down because other brands are getting stronger.

Political Drama and Its Effects

Reports suggest that Elon Musk’s political views might be affecting Tesla’s sales. He has publicly supported far-right political groups, especially in Germany, which may have upset some potential buyers. His comments asking Germans to forget about historical guilt didn’t help either. This led to boycotts, with some people in London urging Tesla owners to switch car brands, and protests happening in places like Strasbourg and even in France, where some Tesla cars were damaged.

Challenges Beyond Europe

Tesla’s trouble isn’t just in Europe. In China, the biggest electric vehicle market, production fell by nearly 50% in February due to tough competition from local companies like BYD and Xiaomi. While Musk’s political actions may not be a factor in China, the competition there is getting fiercer.

In the U.S., investors are also worried. Tesla’s stock has dropped over 40% since December, losing gains from before. Some investors want more accountability from Musk, especially asking for his pay to be connected with environmental and governance goals.

Looking Ahead

A part of the sales drop might be because buyers are waiting for a new Model Y, but experts believe the company’s political troubles and growing competition are big reasons behind the decline. However, Musk is still focused on Tesla’s future, especially in self-driving technology and plans for autonomous taxis.

People are eagerly waiting for upcoming financial reports to see how Tesla will handle these challenges worldwide.