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The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Trump's MAGA base defies conservative pro-Israel doctrine
Unconditional support for Israel has long been an entry requirement in US Republican politics, but that orthodoxy is being challenged by Donald Trump's populist base -- where invocations of the "special relationship" are falling on deaf ears. Images of starvation and suffering in Gaza have given new impetus to a debate that has been simmering in Trump's "MAGA" movement over whether US involvement in the Middle East is consistent with the president's "America First" platform. Trump's first significant break with Israel came on Monday, when he acknowledged that "real starvation" is happening in Gaza and vowed to set up food centers in the besieged enclave, which has been devastated by Israel's war with Hamas. Asked if he agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's denials of the Gaza hunger crisis, Trump said: "Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry." It was a notable retort and prompted commentators to speculate that unwavering US support for Israel might end up as just another conservative sacred cow slayed by MAGA. Vice President JD Vance went further at an event in Ohio, discussing "heartbreaking" images of "little kids who are clearly starving to death" and demanding that Israel let in more aid. Political scientist and former US diplomat Michael Montgomery thinks the tonal shift might in part be emotional -- with TV images of starving children resonating more profoundly than the aftermath of air strikes. "Perhaps it is because no civilized people see starvation as a legitimate weapon of war," the University of Michigan-Dearborn professor told AFP. Israel has always enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress but the rise of the isolationist MAGA movement under Trump has challenged the ideological foundations of the "special relationship." MAGA realpolitik seeks to limit US involvement in foreign wars to those that directly impact its interests, and in particular the "left behind" working class that makes up Trump's base. - 'Almost no support' - Pro-Trump think tank The Heritage Foundation in March called on Washington to "re-orient its relationship with Israel" from a special relationship "to an equal strategic partnership." Stronger expressions of disapproval have been subdued by a sense that they are a betrayal of Republican thinking, according to some analysts -- especially after the October 7 Hamas attacks. But there is a new urgency in the debate in MAGA circles following dire warnings from leading NGOs and the UN World Food Program's finding that a third of Gaza's population -- of about two million -- go for days without eating. One sign of the new thinking came in an X post from far-right firebrand congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has pushed to cancel $500 million in funding for Israel's rocket defense system. Greene this week went further than any Republican lawmaker has previously in using the word "genocide" to describe Israel's conduct and slamming the "starvation of innocent people and children in Gaza." While Greene's credibility has been undermined by an extensive record of conspiratorial social media posts, there is no denying that she knows what makes the MAGA crowd tick. A new CNN poll found the share of Republicans who believe Israel's actions have been fully justified has dropped from 68 percent in 2023 to 52 percent. Youth seems to be the driver, according to a Pew Research poll from April, when food shortages had yet to become a humanitarian catastrophe. While Republicans over age 50 haven't changed much in their pro-Israel outlook since 2022, the survey showed that the US ally's unfavorability among younger adults has climbed from 35 percent to 50 percent. "It seems that for the under-30-year-old MAGA base, Israel has almost no support," former White House strategist Steve Bannon told Politico, adding that Trump's rebuke would solidify his supporters' enmity. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis described the Gaza food emergency as "one of those rare moments where the crisis has broken through the usual partisan gridlock." "You're seeing people across the political spectrum who just can't stomach it anymore," he told AFP. ft/sla
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
NRL commissions more planes than ever before as Vegas interest explodes
In a bid to capitalise on a surge of interest, the NRL has just commissioned a fifth Qantas Dreamliner 787 aeroplane to ferry fans directly to Las Vegas next year. And given the extraordinary interest, there is every chance a sixth plane will be ordered. It is an unprecedented move given just two chartered planes flew to Nevada this year. 'Demand has been so high, it's been unbelievable. The interest in Vegas is growing and growing,' said NRL general manager of US expansion, John Vellis. The first four planes have essentially sold out with a fifth now required and possibly a sixth if interest levels remain at fever-pitch. The 2026 Las Vegas extravaganza will be played on February 28 in America (March 1 in Australia) with games comprising St George Illawarra, Newcastle, Canterbury, North Queensland, Leeds and Hull Kingston Rovers. Four flights will depart from Sydney and another from Brisbane to cater for Cowboys supporters. There are 236 seats on each plane. Economy seats on all four original flights are sold out, with a few remaining in business and premium business. A fifth flight is expected to be sold out, meaning NRL chartered flights alone will carry nearly 1200 fans to Las Vegas. That figure will increase if a sixth plane is required. There will be connecting flights for fans from Townsville to Brisbane and Newcastle to Sydney. Just two NRL flights left Australia in the initial year – one each from Sydney and Brisbane, where Broncos fans boarded. Last year was also two flights, both departing Sydney given Queensland didn't have a side competing. From two to five flights, possibly six, shows the interest in Vegas continues to grow year-in-year. 'The charter flights are going fantastic so we are about to launch another one this week,' said Vellis. 'For the first two years we had two charters. This year we have gone up to four and we are now going to launch a fifth charter. These flights are specifically for our event. 'We have doubled the charters for next year and we are going again (for a fifth plane). 'If tickets go berserk again then we might have to launch another flight. We're not adverse to that at all.' All flights will be themed around each participating NRL club with club legends on board along with classic matches on the in-flight monitors. The flights will leave on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the games and fly directly to Las Vegas. Read related topics: Qantas Dean "Bulldog'" Ritchie has covered rugby league at The Daily Telegraph, and now CODE Sports as well, for 33 years. From the Super League war to NRL grand finals, State of Origin clashes and World Cups, Bulldog has written about the biggest issues in the game and broken many of the most important stories. NRL NRL boss Andrew Abdo has called on players to be respectful to referees, as a sneaky tactic has emerged around close-talking players trying to influence the Bunker. NRL As he prepares to take on his former halves partner for the first time, Jarome Luai has opened up on Lachlan Galvin's Wests Tigers exit, insisting he only ever want to help his ex-teammate.
Mercury
5 hours ago
- Mercury
CEL moves closer to early cashflow
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. Special Report: Challenger Gold is on track to realise its plans to toll treat gold ore from its Hualilan project in Argentina after Austral Gold said refurbishment of its Casposo plant is progressing to plan. Challenger Gold on track to start Hualilan toll treatment plan that will deliver robust cashflow Refurbishment of Austral Gold's Casposo plant progressing to plan with commissioning in August Cashflow from toll treatment to fund plans for standalone development at Hualilan The Hualilan project in San Juan is the subject of a three-year toll milling strategy that could deliver estimated EBITDA of A$136 million, a post-tax NPV of US$50.5 million, and cumulative post-tax-free cash flow of US$56.7 million using conservative spot prices of US$2500/oz for gold and US$27.50/oz for silver. Using a gold price of US$3300/oz, which is a little less than US$30 below spot prices, this EBITDA increases to A$221 million. The company will capitalise on the current high gold price to generate early cash flow. What makes this even more lucrative for Challenger Gold (AX:CEL) is that this potential for robust returns is based on just 3% of the current 2.8 million ounce resource at Hualilan. This toll treatment strategy outlined in a pre-feasibility study requires an upfront capital investment of just US$8.9 million with payback within three months. Watch: Met test success paves way for broader gold development Austral plant Central to this plan is the use of Austral Gold's (ASX:AGD) Casposo plant that is 165km away via sealed road. AGD has now said that commissioning of the plant remains on target for August 2025 with the majority of Q2 key activities having wrapped up and the remaining tasks in progress and on track for completion in early August. So far, the primary crusher refurbishment has been completed and is ready for operation. Installation of a sampling tower is currently underway in this area to improve grade control of the material to be sourced from Hualilan. The SAG mill relining is underway and expected to be wrapped up with recently arrived materials, while the SAG engine repair (part of the grinding circuit) is also finished. Installation of new hydrocyclones is underway and awaiting the vendor's delivery date, while the repair of engines and reducers for leaching tanks and the counter current decantation have also wrapped up. The filter band refurbishment is underway and modifications and improvements to the piping and ducts have also now completed. This will allow for toll processing of Hualilan material to begin in November 2025, which is in line with CEL's schedule. Toll treatment will see the processing of at least 450,000t of near surface Hualilan material for more than three years. Cashflow from the agreement will be allocated towards the construction of the larger stand-alone Hualilan gold project, which boasts a high-grade core of 1.6Moz at 5g/t gold. This article was developed in collaboration with Challenger Gold, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Challenger Gold closer to Hualilan toll milling with Casposo plant refurb on track
