Ministers will not set an arbitrary cap on the number of civil servants amid reports more than 10,000 jobs could be lost as the result of a spending squeeze. Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”Los Angeles Clippers leading scorer Norman Powell has been ruled out of Sunday's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a left hamstring strain. Powell, who has averaged 23.3 points over 15 games this season, was injured in the first quarter of a 102-99 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Monday. He finished the game and scored a team-best 23 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Scenes from the City of Stockbridge’s 2024 Free Turkey Giveaway held Saturday at the Stockbridge Amphitheater. Click for more. PHOTOS: Turkey GiveawayNo chance of 'opposition wipe-out' in next GE: PM Lawrence Wong

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For nearly three decades, Jon and Peg Morse have operated The Big Apple Farm in Wrentham, Massachusetts -- a popular destination for locals in search of famous donuts, apples, other fruits, assorted vegetables, pies, seasonal treats and more. But the Morses announced in a Facebook post Friday that they are retiring. There was no immediate word from the couple on what will happen to the farm. "We want to take this moment to thank everyone for the last 28 years," the Morses wrote. "To our community and customers we thank you for your support. Thank you for continuously supporting our business and sharing family memories over the years. We will miss you all!" The Morses also thanked their employees and staff for their outstanding work and commitment: "The many hours and hard work, we greatly appreciate all you have done." Customers on social media expressed sadness over the news and said they hope the Morses don't sell the land; they'd like to see the Big Apple continue as a farm. "No way! I love the Big Apple," wrote Rosemary Tatro Gately. "Hopefully you are selling it to someone who will maintain the farm." "Your place is one of the best treasures in Wrentham," Sheryl Kennedy said. "It breaks my heart that you are retiring but I’m very happy for you at the same time...I pray somehow, some way that someone would take it over as the community needs precious places like the Big Apple to remain." "So sad but happy for all," Sydni Unterweger wrote. "Someone please find the doughnut recipe because I'm not sure I can live life without those." The Morses haven't said what they plan to do with the farm, or who they may be selling to.Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of season

An NBA officiating review concluded that referees were correct to call a foul on Jonathan Kuminga in the final seconds of the Golden State Warriors' 91-90 Wednesday loss to the Houston Rockets. The Last Two Minute Report released by the league on Thursday stated that Kuminga "pulls his shoulder down" when reaching over Rockets guard Jalen Green with 3.5 seconds remaining on the clock. The Warriors were leading by one point at the time of the foul. Green hit both ensuing free throws to seal the Rockets' win. Golden State led by six points with three minutes left before the Rockets climbed back within one point. Steph Curry missed a step-back jumpshot attempt from 24 feet out with 11 seconds remaining. In the final seconds, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet grappled with Warriors guard Gary Payton II for the ball seconds before the foul was called on Kuminga. The Last Two Minute Report deemed that a "correct non-call," writing that VanVleet made "clean contact with the ball." Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who was visibly frustrated by the foul on Kuminga, said after the game that he had "never seen" a call like the one that ended up deciding Wednesday night's game. "I've never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line," Kerr told reporters after the game, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk . "I've never seen that. I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is, I mean, unconscionable." "I don't even understand what just happened. Loose ball, diving on the floor, 80 feet from the basket, and you're going to give a guy two free throws to decide the game when people are scrambling for the ball. Just give them a timeout and let the players decide the game. That's how you officiate." The Rockets had lost their previous 15 games against the Warriors heading into the matchup. After defeating Golden State for the first time since February 2020, Houston advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. Kerr and the Warriors have yet to make it to the semifinals in two editions of the in-season tournament.Giants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skidWorld reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29

Latest Vikings injury report casts major suspicion on crucial offensive weapon's availability in Week 12 vs. BearsBy Bruce Shipkowski | Associated Press TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases, ” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus ,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection , and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature,” he said. “We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Related Articles National News | East Bay man pleads to 12 years for killing neighbor while on probation in gang sexual assault case National News | Former California VA employee arrested in work-related slaying of manager National News | Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing National News | Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey National News | Jury sworn in for first trial of 2019 Santa Cruz County kidnapping and killing of cannabis entrepreneur Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what’s going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.” Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

week. Despite BTC's dominance, Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK) skyrocketed, eyeing further gains. Meanwhile, DTX Exchange (DTX), a new exchange-based crypto, has been hailed as the future of trading. Its innovative blend of the best elements of CEX and DEX makes it a strong contender, tipped to flip BNB. DTX Exchange (DTX): A New Exchange-Based Token to Watch DTX Exchange (DTX) as a hybrid trading platform doesn't conform to the norms. Instead, it will combine CEX and DEX's best elements—a hybrid trading platform. It is the hottest new DeFi project and as a result, poised to take the crypto world by storm. Unlike existing exchange protocols, its trading protocol will feature elements like wallet-based trading and non-custodial storage solutions. Users will be able to trade thousands of assets across stocks, bonds, ETFs, forex and cryptos via a unified wallet without requiring traditional bank accounts. Moreover, its non-custodial storage solutions will eliminate the need to trust a central authority with assets and funds. On track to reshape the $10 billion global trading space, it is a new exchange-based to watch out for, tipped to outpace BNB. It has...Jake Paul sided with his former rival, Tommy Fury, in a social media shot at former UFC star Darren Till. Jake Paul is fresh off his unanimous decision win over boxing legend Mike Tyson earlier this month. Just days after the win, Paul isn’t slowing down in his marketing tactics and unleashed a brutal troll job on Tommy Fury’s upcoming boxing opponent . Fury will face former UFC star Darren Till at Misfits Boxing X Series 20 in a 205lb exhibition boxing match on January 18th. Ahead of their upcoming boxing match, the two sides traded barbs at a pre-fight press conference, featuring a wild brawl on stage . Till has previously exuded supreme confidence in what he would do to Paul if the two were ever booked for a boxing match. After the Fury vs. Till announcement, Paul highlighted one of Till’s biggest losses to irk the former UFC title challenger. READ MORE: ‘This is wrong!’... Bellator champs, including Patricio Pitbull, scorch PFL over inactivity Jake Paul puts Darren Till below former rivals Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley on the fighting hierarchy In a recent post to X , Paul belittled Till with footage from the latter’s UFC title loss to one of his former boxing opponents, Tyron Woodley. “MMA/UFC career fact check,” Paul began. “Silva > Woodley > Diaz > Askren > Perry > Till (got spanked by Tyron).” It’s uncertain, as of this writing, what provoked Paul to throw such a blatant shot at Till online. But, it’s clear he has a rooting interest in the upcoming Fury vs. Till scrap. After defeating Tyson earlier this month, Paul is expected to return sometime in the first quarter of 2025. A rematch with Fury could potentially be in the works, depending on how the Fury vs. Till clash plays out in January. Till made his exhibition boxing debut against Mohammad Mutie earlier this year, winning by TKO and igniting a post-fight scuffle. The former UFC standout still wants an eventual return to the Octagon to face one of the top names in the middleweight division, including possibly Bo Nickal . READ MORE: Francis Ngannou bizarrely backs Jon Jones’ decision to not fight Tom Aspinall Jake Paul remasters heel role to defend former rival Paul suffered his first professional boxing loss to Fury last year after winning his first six professional fights, including victories over Woodley and UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva. Since the Fury loss, he’s rattled off five-straight wins, including a TKO victory over Bare Knuckle FC superstar Mike Perry . Till’s late-career UFC struggles led to him parting ways with the promotion last year, just weeks after a UFC 282 loss to Dricus du Plessis. He lost five of his last six fights with the promotion, including the welterweight title defeat to Woodley at UFC 228. Depending on how things play out in January, Paul and Till could potentially be on a boxing collision course. Paul has a history of facing former MMA standouts in the boxing ring but wants to one day fight for a boxing world title, calling out Canelo Alvarez and others. In the meantime, Paul took a rare defense against one of his former rivals and holds little regard for Till’s fighting accolades. READ MORE: Jon Jones’ desired pay for Tom Aspinall fight predicted by longtime UFC commentator

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