Tensions in the Middle East are on a knife's edge in the aftermath of Iran's barrage of missiles on Israel. 

The Israeli defence force says there's been no reports of casualties and most of the around 180 projectiles were intercepted. 

Iran has confirmed the attack and says it's targeting Israel in response to deaths of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. 

Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine James Mackenzie told Ryan Bridge it’s a big deal despite there having been an attack from Iran back in April. 

He said that the first time there was limited damage and a sort of tacit agreement to let it slide, but with it happening again, the stakes are definitely raised. 

They’ve already seen a really sharp uptick in essentially the beginning of a war in Israel.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Tensions in the Middle East are on a knife's edge in the aftermath of Iran's barrage of missiles on Israel.&nbsp;
The Israeli defence force says there's been no reports of casualties and most of the around 180 projectiles were intercepted.&nbsp;
Iran has confirmed the attack and says it's targeting Israel in response to deaths of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah.&nbsp;
Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine James Mackenzie told Ryan Bridge it’s a big deal despite there having been an attack from Iran back in April.&nbsp;
He said that the first time there was limited damage and a sort of tacit agreement to let it slide, but with it happening again, the stakes are definitely raised.&nbsp;
They’ve already seen a really sharp uptick in essentially the beginning of a war in Israel. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

James Mackenzie: Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine on the ground invasion in Lebanon and missile attacks on Israel

Mood of the boardroom survey, more than 100 of our top business leaders have had their say on the government, its ministers and the economy today.

CEOs ranked the performance of the Cabinet Ministers with ‘1’ being not impressive and ‘5’ - very impressive.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon scored with 3.73 whilst keeping his cabinet focused on delivery and education, Minister Erica Stanford was top of the class for Minister Performance resulting with a score of 4.01.

Simeon Brown, Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop came closely behind Stanford, Brown resulted with a score of 3.89, Willis and Bishop tied on 3.88.

Managing editor for NZME Duncan Bridgeman says that after a year of having a new government, he believes there's some uncertainty around the delivery that Christopher Luxon and his team can pull through when coming down to economic growth with the business community. 

<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;">Mood of the boardroom survey, more than 100 of our top business leaders have had their say on the government, its ministers and the economy today.
<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;">CEOs ranked the performance of the Cabinet Ministers with ‘1’ being not impressive and ‘5’ -&nbsp;very impressive.
<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;">Prime Minister Christopher Luxon scored with 3.73 whilst keeping his cabinet focused on delivery and education, Minister Erica Stanford was top of the class for Minister Performance resulting with a score of 4.01.
<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;">Simeon Brown, Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop came closely behind Stanford, Brown resulted with a score of 3.89, Willis and Bishop tied on 3.88.
<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;">Managing editor for NZME Duncan Bridgeman says that after a year of having a new government, he believes there's some uncertainty around the delivery that Christopher Luxon and his team can pull through when coming down to economic growth with the business community.

Duncan Bridgeman: NZME Managing Editor expresses his concerns with economic growth in the business community

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are on strike Tuesday against the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports.

They are demanding a $5/hour increase in pay every year for the next six years.

Mitch McCann, US Correspondent says that New Zealand exporters are likely to be affected by congestion and delays.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at home advises exporters to stay in contact with the freight companies to see what options are available for them.

McCann told Ryan Bridge while the strike continues, they're also advised to keep in touch with the US customers to inform them about potential delays in the coming weeks.

LISTEN ABOVE

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are on strike Tuesday against the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports.
They are demanding a $5/hour increase in pay every year for the next six years.
Mitch McCann, US Correspondent says that New Zealand exporters are likely to be affected by congestion and delays.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at home advises exporters to stay in contact with the freight companies to see what options are available for them.
McCann told Ryan Bridge while the strike continues, they're also advised to keep in touch with the US customers to inform them about potential delays in the coming weeks.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Mitch McCann: US Correspondent tells us about US Ports major strike and how it impacts NZ

The real proof will be in the pudding – if smoking rates come down, does it matter how she did it? 

If it was a non-tobacco company getting a tax cut to provide a product that was less harmful than ciggies would there be outrage? 

Or are we blinded by the fact it's a multinational whose legacy has been peddling cigarettes that clouds our judgement? 

Are we being rational about this? 

Isn't the ultimate goal to reduce smoking rates? 

Are the ‘try anything, do it differently’ policies she's pushing going to bring smoking rates down? 

Time will tell. 

She should have been more on to it and open about the advice she had received on heat not burn products, sure. It's being released this week, we're told. 

But calling for her to resign and labelling her as corrupt and in the hands of the tobacco lobby are a bit much. 

Costello's own father died of smoking related respiratory disease. She's a Māori woman herself. 

Can you imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and National was accusing a Māori wahine toa minister, who's dad had died of cancer, of being in the pocket of big tobacco and actively trying to cause genocide on her own people, what the reaction would be form the left? 

If the argument is that she should be more open and transparent, half of Labour's last cabinet should have resigned in their first term too, 

So far, no smoking gun. Let's see what she's achieved once the smoke clears. 

The real proof will be in the pudding – if smoking rates come down, does it matter how she did it?&nbsp;
If it was a non-tobacco company getting a tax cut to provide a product that was less harmful than ciggies would there be outrage?&nbsp;
Or are we blinded by the fact it's a multinational whose legacy has been peddling cigarettes that clouds our judgement?&nbsp;
Are we being rational about this?&nbsp;
Isn't the ultimate goal to reduce smoking rates?&nbsp;
Are the ‘try anything, do it differently’ policies she's pushing going to bring smoking rates down?&nbsp;
Time will tell.&nbsp;
She should have been more on to it and open about the advice she had received on heat not burn products, sure. It's being released this week, we're told.&nbsp;
But calling for her to resign and labelling her as corrupt and in the hands of the tobacco lobby are a bit much.&nbsp;
Costello's own father died of smoking related respiratory disease. She's a Māori woman herself.&nbsp;
Can you imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and National was accusing a Māori wahine toa minister, who's dad had died of cancer, of being in the pocket of big tobacco and actively trying to cause genocide on her own people, what the reaction would be form the left?&nbsp;
If the argument is that she should be more open and transparent, half of Labour's last cabinet should have resigned in their first term too,&nbsp;
So far, no smoking gun. Let's see what she's achieved once the smoke clears.&nbsp;

James Mackenzie: Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine on the ground invasion in Lebanon and missile attacks on Israel

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