Greater Greenfield MA - Franklin County

Security council says peacekeepers ‘must never be the target of an attack’; Israeli PM reportedly tells US he is willing to avoid strikes on oil or nuclear installationsIsraeli airstrike kills more than 20 in northern Lebanon as UN peacekeeping row growsThe Australian government has said it is “appalled by the unacceptable deaths of innocent civilians as a result of Israel’s operations in Gaza”.A spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, made the comment this afternoon and reiterated that Australia was calling for civilians to be protected. Continue reading...

Follow today’s news liveGeorge Negus, veteran journalist and TV presenter, dies aged 82Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government has announced targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on five Iranian individuals it says is “contributing to Iran’s missile program.”A statement from the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Iran’s missile program “poses a material threat to regional and international security”, with the 1 October attack on Israel a “dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war.”Australia will continue to hold Iran to account for its reckless and destabilising actions.We’re holding ministers accountable when the premier of Tasmania refused to. This project – for people who don’t know – is $500m over budget, five years delayed.It’s a completely debacle. Someone needed to take responsibility. The premier [was] saying he wouldn’t do that, the parliament decided it would act and, at the last moment, the deputy premier resigned. Continue reading...

Health secretary announces trials to assess impact of medicines such as Ozempic or Mounjaro on worklessnessNew weight-loss jabs could be given to unemployed people to help them get back into work, Wes Streeting has suggested.The health secretary said “widening waistbands” were placing a burden on the NHS. Continue reading...

Drop makes November cut to interest rates more likely, as unemployment rate dips to 4%Business live – latest updatesThe growth in employee annual earnings in Great Britain has fallen below 5% for the first time in more than two years, closing the gap between wages and inflation.Staff pay, excluding bonuses, rose by 4.9% in the three months to August compared with the same period a year earlier, down from 5.1% in the three months to July, according to the Office for National Statistics. Continue reading...

One man received burns to his hands and two others transported to hospital as a precaution, before Hazmat crews decontaminated siteFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree people have been taken to hospital and others have been told to monitor for symptoms after a dangerous chemical reaction near the University of Sydney.Hazmat crews in full-body protective suits were called to decontaminate the scene after the chemical incident on Tuesday near the university’s sports and aquatic centre.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...