Daily News Roundup

WEDNESDAY, June 27

The US Supreme Court has handed Donald Trump one of the biggest victories of his presidency, upholding his travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries and rejecting the idea it represented unconstitutional religious discrimination.

The 5-4 ruling, with the court’s five conservatives in the majority, ends a fierce fight in the courts over whether the policy represented an unlawful Muslim ban, reports the ABC.

The court held that the challengers had failed to show that the ban violates either US immigration law or the US constitution’s First Amendment prohibition on the government favouring one religion over another.

Mr Trump can now claim vindication after lower courts blocked his travel ban announced in September, as well as two prior versions, in legal challenges brought by the state of Hawaii and others.

He quickly reacted to the decision on Twitter:

“SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!”

Mr Trump followed up with a statement at the White House, claiming the decision was “a moment of profound vindication” for his policy.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a tremendous victory for the American people and the Constitution,” he said.

“This ruling is also a moment of profound vindication following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country.”

In his remarks at the White House, Mr Trump reinforced his reasoning for the ban.

“We have to be tough, and we have to be safe, and we have to be secure. At a minimum, we have to make sure that we vet people coming into the country,” the Republican president said.

Writing for the court, Chief Justice John Roberts said that the government “has set forth a sufficient national security justification” to prevail.

“We express no view on the soundness of the policy,” Justice Roberts added.

The ruling affirmed broad presidential discretion over who is allowed to enter the United States.

It means that the current ban can remain in effect and that Mr Trump could potentially add more countries.

Mr Trump has said the policy is needed to protect the country against attacks by Islamic militants.

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Australia is out of the FIFA World Cup after a dispiriting 2-0 loss to already-eliminated Peru to finish bottom of Group C.

France and Denmark drew 0-0 to make Australia’s loss ultimately inconsequential as Les Bleus topped the group with seven points, ahead of Denmark (five), Peru (three) and the bottom-placed Socceroos on a solitary point.

Peru opened the scoring through Andre Carrillo, who lashed home a superb right-footed volley from the edge of the area across the diving Mat Ryan, who had no chance.

There was an element of controversy with suggestions the through ball that started the move that led to the goal was offside.

Needing to come flying out the traps in the second half, Australia instead conceded just five minutes into the second stanza as Peru simply walked through the Socceroos’ midfield for Paolo Guerrero to slot home.

The Socceroos threw on Tim Cahill and Daniel Arzani from the bench, but could only create one meaningful shot as Cahill volleyed straight into the midriff of his marker.

Peru nearly had a third as Christian Cueva thumped a shot against Mat Ryan’s upright, with Australia’s exit looking a foregone conclusion.

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Pauline Hanson has declared that “women’s intuition” has fueled her intense distrust of Labor leader Bill Shorten, the Courier Mail reports in an inclusive.

In an extraordinary attack on Mr Shorten’s character Hanson told the Courier “I just say, ‘keep away’.”

The Queensland Senator also accused the private-school educated Mr Shorten of having a “silver spoon in his mouth” and “no connection with grassroots Australians”.

Asked if she liked Mr Shorten, Senator Hanson said: “No.”  

“I don’t trust him…it’s women’s intuition, “ Sanor Hanson said.  

This daily news roundup is created with stories from The Courier Mail.