Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay homeJACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed , a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Reed was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976, beginning at a time when Democrats still dominated in the region. During the 1976 Republican National Convention, delegates were closely divided between President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Reed united the Mississippi delegation behind Ford — a move that created a decadeslong feud with William D. “Billy” Mounger, another wealthy businessman who was prominent in the Mississippi Republican Party. Reed recalled in a 2016 interview with The Associated Press that delegates faced considerable pressure. Movie stars visited Mississippi's 30 delegates to push for Reagan, and Betty Ford called on behalf of her husband. Reagan met twice with the Mississippi delegation — once with his proposed running mate, Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Schweiker — and once without, according Haley Barbour, who was executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1976 and served as the state's governor from 2004 to 2012. “Everybody was coming to see us," Reed said. “These poor people had never seen this before, the average delegate.” Mississippi delegates were showing the stress at a meeting away from the convention floor in Kansas City, Reed said. “I looked out, and about half of them were crying," he said. Reed initially supported Reagan, but said he moved into the Ford camp because he thought Reagan made “a hell of a mistake” by choosing a more liberal northeastern running mate in a gambit to win support of the unpledged Pennsylvania delegation. “In my opinion, Reagan was the best president of my lifetime. I didn’t know that then,” Reed said in 2016. “And had he been elected with Schweiker, he might’ve gotten a bullet one inch over and Schweiker would’ve been president.” Ford won the party nomination during the convention, then lost the general election to Jimmy Carter, the Democratic former governor of Georgia. Reed was born in Alliance, Ohio, in 1928, and his family moved to Caruthersville, Missouri, when he was about six months old. He earned a business degree from the University of Missouri in 1950. He and Barthell Joseph, a friend he had met at a high school boarding school, founded an agriculture equipment business called Reed-Joseph International, which used technology to scare birds away from farms and airports. Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said Monday that Reed was “a mentor, supporter and advisor to me for over 56 years." Wicker said he was 21 when Reed put him on the Republican Platform Committee in 1972. “There is no more significant figure in the development of the modern day Mississippi Republican Party than Clarke Reed,” Wicker wrote on social media. “Our state has lost a giant."The Prime Minister is set to visit British troops serving on Russia’s border as he says Ukraine will require more funding and capability. Sir Keir Starmer was speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference in Estonia where he met leaders of other Baltic states. After signing an energy partnership with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Bergen, Sir Keir flew to Estonia where he spoke alongside Mr Store and their Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal. Asked what else could be done to support Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “There is an ever-increasing demand for more capability. That is understandable, and Ukraine needs all the capability that it can get, so I think all of us have put in more capability into Ukraine by way of equipment.” He added: “A lot of money has been raised, funding has been raised, but more is going to be needed.” The Prime Minister’s also discussed making the economic case at home for continued support for Ukraine. Sir Keir said: “Making the case on the significance of Ukraine, making the case, to double down, linking it back to each of our countries – what does it mean for us if Russia succeeds, is a really important question that we have to answer with our people to make it clear why it is that we are so supportive of Ukraine, why it is that we must stand with our allies on this, why it is we must make sure that Nato is put in the strongest position as well. “Now, this is a different world to the world of 10, 20 years ago, to recognise the world that we are living in, there’s a positive case as well to be made. “Defence spending doesn’t sort of sit in a silo over here with no effect on the rest of the economy, no effect on technology. “It has a huge effect on technologies, the cutting edge of technology and change which can then be used in other areas. “It binds countries together. I think all of us have got joint projects on in terms of defence capabilities that bind us together. There’s a huge number of well-paid jobs that are very important to our economy in defence spending as well. “But we have to make that positive case. I don’t personally feel that we can sort of sit back and assume that all of those in our respective countries necessarily accept all of our arguments unless we make them in that positive way, which I do think the argument can and should and must be made. “But the challenge that you put to us is the right challenge, which is it’s very difficult when finances are tight, as they are in all of our countries.” On Tuesday morning the Prime Minister will meet Taavi Madiberk, the founder of Estonian tech start-up manufacturing low-cost air defence missiles, Frankenburg Technologies, which is planning to open a new office in London Specialising in the manufacture of the missiles, the rapidly growing company already collaborates closely with the UK defence industry, sourcing a significant portion of its subsystems locally, including from propulsion specialists Roxel in Worcestershire. The Prime Minister will again attend the JEF summit, joining leaders from the Nordics and Baltics to discuss support for Ukraine, the sustained threat posed by Russia and wider European security. He will then visit British forces serving in the region to deter malign Russian threats.
When the Magic selected Tristan da Silva No. 18 overall in June’s draft, the move wasn’t that surprising. Despite his age — at 23, he entered his rookie season older than Franz Wagner , Paolo Banchero , Caleb Houstan and Orlando ‘s lottery picks from last year, Anthony Black and Jett Howard — the Colorado Buffalo star checked critical boxes for team president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and the front office. A lengthy prospect at 6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan who provided versatility on both ends and could shoot well from distance (39.5% as a senior in college), da Silva fit the Magic mold. But where would he fit on the court? There wasn’t a clear or obvious pathway to him seeing consistent time as a rookie as part of an already young roster that looked to balance winning and player development while returning to the playoffs. But as is the case in life, things don’t always go to plan in the NBA, either. So when Banchero suffered a torn right abdominal muscle that sidelined him indefinitely at the end of October, da Silva was ready for the moment. Similar to Black stepping into Orlando’s starting lineup in the sixth game last season for the injured Markelle Fultz (no longer with the team), da Silva was inserted into coach Jamahl Mosley’s starting group by the seventh contest. Since then, he’s made 10 consecutive starts, marking 11 total of his 13 appearances. In that stretch as a starter, he’s averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.5 minutes. He’s also recorded at least one steal three times and two-or-more steals once alongside at least one block twice and two-or-more blocks once. “He’s a player,” veteran Gary Harris recently told the Sentinel about da Silva. “He’s smart. He understands where he’s supposed to be. He works hard. It’s just a testament to who he is. He was drafted for a reason.” How Franz Wagner shined bright for Magic to cap road trip with rare win at Lakers Although he’s not scoring at a high level (he’s only reached double figures four times), that’s not what he’s been asked to do. That’s what Wagner, Suggs, Black and others are for. For da Silva, he’s provided consistent minutes as a playmaker, dishing assists to cutting teammates and rebounding with effort. More importantly, he hasn’t made many mistakes, averaging just 0.5 turnovers. His 3.57 assist-to-turnover ratio led all rookies who had played at least 11 games entering Saturday night’s contest against the Pistons. And compared to the rest of the rookie class, da Silva has played above his means given where he was drafted — outside the draft lottery (top 14 picks). During his last 11 starts, the No. 18 pick averaged the sixth-most minutes, the 10th-most assists, and the 11th-most rebounds among all rookies, according to NBA.com . The Magic forward’s plus-5.3 net rating (Orlando’s point differential per 100 possessions while he’s on court) was fourth-best compared to other rookies who have played in at least 11 games. Of those 26 players, da Silva was one of just eight with a positive net rating heading into Saturday’s slate. When Banchero eventually returns , Mosley will have to once again configure his rotations, and that could mean limited action for da Silva. Before Banchero’s injury, da Silva had played just 5 minutes of garbage time on opening night and hadn’t seen action in Orlando’s other four games. Until Banchero gets back, the rookie will aim to do what he does best — the little things that add up in a major way. Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com Up next ... Magic at Hornets When: 7, Monday, Spectrum Center TV: FanDuel Sports Network FloridaThe results of the Uttar Pradesh by-elections in nine assembly constituencies have reinforced the dominance of the BJP and its allies, who secured seven seats. The victory reflects Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s aggressive leadership, his emphasis on religious unity, and his appeal to transcend caste-based politics. The slogan “Bantenge Toh Katenge” (Division leads to defeat), coined by Adityanath, emerged as a defining message of the BJP’s campaign, striking a chord with voters across communities. The by-elections marked a shift in voter sentiment compared to the Lok Sabha polls, as Dalits and OBC voters who had supported the opposition during the general elections realigned with the BJP. Unlike the general elections, where caste census and socio-economic concerns dominated voter priorities, the by-elections saw a consolidation of Hindu voters across caste lines. Religious unity, consistently emphasized by Yogi Adityanath during his rallies, appeared to resonate strongly. The chief minister’s messaging framed unity as essential for security and progress, urging voters to avoid divisions along caste lines. This shift was most visible in constituencies like Kundarki in Moradabad, where the BJP achieved a historic victory despite the constituency’s 65% Muslim population. The BJP approached these by-elections with a more measured and strategic approach than its Lok Sabha campaign. Candidates were chosen through detailed social engineering to ensure appeal within each constituency. To counter potential complacency, the party conducted multiple meetings to energize its workers and mobilized grassroots campaigns. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and reinforcing BJP’s message of unity. The by-elections also highlighted the challenges faced by the Samajwadi Party, which managed to retain only two seats—Karhal and Sisamau—both of which are considered its traditional bastions. The absence of Congress from the electoral fray weakened the opposition’s collective strength, indirectly benefiting the BJP. Furthermore, the SP struggled to mobilize Dalit voters, who had been a key support base for the party during the general elections. The BJP’s resounding victory in the bypolls also underscored its efforts to recalibrate its strategy after setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, where it lost significant ground in Uttar Pradesh. The loss of seats like Faizabad during the general elections, despite the prominence of the Ram Mandir issue, revealed the limitations of relying solely on religious narratives. In contrast, the bypolls reflected the BJP’s ability to combine religious unity with development-focused governance and targeted social engineering. Prime Minister Narendra Modi complemented Yogi Adityanath’s messaging with a national spin on the slogan, declaring, “Ek Rahenge Toh Safe Rahenge” (Unity ensures safety). This alignment between state and national leadership played a key role in consolidating voter support. The BJP’s performance in these elections is being seen as a critical indicator of its political momentum ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. While Yogi Adityanath emerges stronger with this victory, Akhilesh Yadav faces the challenge of rebuilding his coalition and strategy to counter the BJP’s expanding influence in the state. As Uttar Pradesh continues to shape national politics, the by-election results highlight the significance of unity, both as a slogan and as a strategy. Constituency-wise Results Kundarki (Moradabad) : BJP’s Ramveer Singh defeated SP’s Mohammad Rizwan by over 96,000 votes, marking a significant victory in this minority-dominated area. Sisamau (Kanpur) : SP’s Naseem Solanki retained the seat, continuing the party’s three-decade hold. Karhal (Mainpuri) : A bastion of Akhilesh Yadav, SP retained the seat with ease. Phulpur (Prayagraj) : BJP’s Deepak Patel triumphed over SP’s Mohammad Mustafa Siddiqui. Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar) : Rashtriya Lok Dal’s (RLD) Mithlesh Pal won by 29,867 votes, showcasing the RLD’s regional strength. Ghaziabad : The seat is BJP bastion. Atul Garg won it for the saffron party last time and Sanjeev Sharma retained the seat for the party. Katehri : The BJP also won Katehari seat won, which was by the Samajwadi Party in the last election; Dharmraj Nishad won by over 18,000 votes ahead of the SP's Shobawati Verma. Majhawan : BJP's Shuchismita Maurya won against Dr Jyoti Bind of the SP. Khair : BJP’s Surendra Diler defeated SP’s Charu Kain. BJP wins Uttarakhand: In a high-stake battle, the BJP was successful in winning the by-poll for Kedarnath assembly seat. BJP nominee Asha Nautiyal, who got 23,814 votes, defeated Manoj Rawat of the Congress by a margin of 5622 votes.
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