Fears of major escalation in the Middle East are high after Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics, Dr Leon Goldsmith tells Ryan Bridge the leader is rarely seen in public and it is clear killing was planned for a long time.

LISTEN ABOVE

<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Fears of major escalation in the Middle East are high after Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics, Dr Leon Goldsmith tells Ryan Bridge the leader is rarely seen in public and it is clear killing was planned for a long time.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Dr Leon Goldsmith: Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics on Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fb885187-9751-4a13-8e18-b1fa0132c6eb/transcript

By the end of those 8 shortened two-minute rounds in the ring with Mike Tyson, I just felt bad for the 58 year old. 

What on earth was he doing there in the first place. 

Sure, he wants a chance to get back in the right and have a crack at 27-year-old YouTube kid. 

But the real motivation must have surely been US $20-million. 

That's the amount he was reportedly paid by Netflix. 

Jake Paul reportedly got $40-million. 

Gate ticket sales at AT&T Stadium brought in close to US $18-million and 70,000 fans. 

And Netflix? Well they won the fight with 65-million viewers at peak. 

It's part of a new strategy to host live sport events lure subscribers - including  those paying less but getting fed ads on the platform. 

That ad-supported platform now accounts for 50% of its new sign ups. It's grown to 70-million new users in just two years. 

These big tech Silicon Valley giant media companies like YouTube and Chinese Tiktok and every other app under the sun that didn't start here in New Zealand are going from strength to strength. 

They're the ones who have our attention. 

According to online sources, the top 3 streaming sources here are Netflix with 1 million, Disney + with 600k and Amazon with 500+. 

And yet here we are in NZ and Australia trying to force them into news content deals with us, we're battling with taxpayers cash to reinvigorate flailing state media companies to compete with these guys in a doomed-to-fail battle. 

We're like the 58-year-old Mike Tyson, who apparently nearly died before entering the ring. 

They're their annoying 27-year-new-to-boxing but bringing in the eyeballs Jake Paul. 

Are we going to beat that little twat in the ring? No. 

Continuing to fight him could kill us off. 

We've got to somehow partner with them, rearrange ourselves and get our content on their platforms where it'll actually be seen. 

Or we can stay in ring getting beaten and bloodied then eventually KO'd. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

By the end of those 8 shortened two-minute rounds in the ring with Mike Tyson, I just felt bad for the 58 year old.&nbsp;
What on earth was he doing there in the first place.&nbsp;
Sure, he wants a chance to get back in the right and have a crack at 27-year-old YouTube kid.&nbsp;
But the real motivation must have surely been US $20-million.&nbsp;
That's the amount he was reportedly paid by Netflix.&nbsp;
Jake Paul reportedly got $40-million.&nbsp;
Gate ticket sales at AT&amp;T Stadium brought in close to US $18-million and 70,000 fans.&nbsp;
And Netflix? Well they won the fight with 65-million viewers at peak.&nbsp;
It's part of a new strategy to host live sport events lure subscribers - including &nbsp;those paying less but getting fed ads on the platform.&nbsp;
That ad-supported platform now accounts for 50% of its new sign ups. It's grown to 70-million new users in just two years.&nbsp;
These big tech Silicon Valley giant media companies like YouTube and Chinese Tiktok and every other app under the sun that didn't start here in New Zealand are going from strength to strength.&nbsp;
They're the ones who have our attention.&nbsp;
According to online sources, the top 3 streaming sources here are Netflix with 1 million, Disney + with 600k and Amazon with 500+.&nbsp;
And yet here we are in NZ and Australia trying to force them into news content deals with us, we're battling with taxpayers cash to reinvigorate flailing state media companies to compete with these guys in a doomed-to-fail battle.&nbsp;
We're like the 58-year-old Mike Tyson, who apparently nearly died before entering the ring.&nbsp;
They're their annoying 27-year-new-to-boxing but bringing in the eyeballs Jake Paul.&nbsp;
Are we going to beat that little twat in the ring? No.&nbsp;
Continuing to fight him could kill us off.&nbsp;
We've got to somehow partner with them, rearrange ourselves and get our content on their platforms where it'll actually be seen.&nbsp;
Or we can stay in ring getting beaten and bloodied then eventually KO'd.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: New Zealand's fight against the big tech companies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c0f93a8b-bec2-42ec-b213-b22b013c437c/transcript

Health New Zealand spent $85 million more on contractors and consultants in this financial year, compared to last. 

The health agency is putting the increase down to a global shortage of health workers. Health Minister Shane Reti says contract hires are needed to fill full-time workforce gaps. 

Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Sarah Dalton tells Ryan Bridge the 2023 Workforce Plan identified 1700 doctors missing from the system. 

“This health system continues to rely too heavily on locums to run hospitals. It means staffing remains fragile, and it means it’s really expensive.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Health New Zealand spent $85 million more on contractors and consultants in this financial year, compared to last.&nbsp;
The health agency is putting the increase down to a global shortage of health workers. Health Minister Shane Reti says contract hires are needed to fill full-time workforce gaps.&nbsp;
Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Sarah Dalton tells Ryan Bridge the 2023 Workforce Plan identified 1700 doctors missing from the system.&nbsp;
“This health system continues to rely too heavily on locums to run hospitals. It means staffing remains fragile, and it means it’s really expensive.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Sarah Dalton: Executive Director of the  on $85 million spending increase on contractors and consultants

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/de12b93b-d983-4487-95fe-b22b013b2a02/transcript

Poland scrambled its air force due to the “massive” Russian attack on Ukraine.  

UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Ryan Bridge strike missile and drone attacks from Russia into Ukraine overnight killed 10 people. The attack was the largest coordinated assault since early September, with 120 missiles and 90 drones launched. 

European leaders have condemned the attacks. As Ukraine’s neighbour, Poland flew fighter jets in its own airspace with Russian drones flying just 20 kilometres from the border. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Poland scrambled its air force due to the “massive” Russian attack on Ukraine. &nbsp;
UK &amp; Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Ryan Bridge strike missile and drone attacks from Russia into Ukraine overnight killed 10 people. The attack was the largest coordinated assault since early September, with 120 missiles and 90 drones launched.&nbsp;
European leaders have condemned the attacks. As Ukraine’s neighbour, Poland flew fighter jets in its own airspace with Russian drones flying just 20 kilometres from the border.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Gavin Grey: UK & Europe correspondent on Russian attack on Ukraine prompting quick action from Poland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c494b061-9f7d-4da0-81bb-b22b01377403/transcript

Dr Leon Goldsmith: Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics on Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

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