Good morning, this is Eleanor Ainge Roy bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Wednesday 27 June.
Top stories
The US supreme court has upheld Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries, in a significant victory for the administration and a blow to anti-discrimination advocates. In a 5-4 ruling handed down on Tuesday US time, the court accepted the government’s argument that the ban was within the president’s power to craft national security policy and his authority to “suspend entry of aliens into the United States”. Trump has issued three executive orders curbing travel from five Muslim-majority countries: Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Minutes after the ruling was issued, Trump tweeted: “SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!” Opponents of the ban have said it has not made the country safer, while singling out Muslims for unfair treatment and violating constitutional protections against discrimination on religious grounds.
The Socceroos are out of the World Cup after being defeated 2-0 by Peru overnight. Peru scored a goal in each half to end Australia’s far-fetched hopes of glory. Needing victory to progress to the last 16 for the first time since 2006, the Socceroos were outclassed by superior opposition, reflecting Australia’s problems up front and lack of real depth across the squad. “The Socceroos are simply not good enough and to do not have enough world-class players to defeat the best countries in the world,” writes John Davidson in his analysis of the match. As the Socceroos pack their bags, look back at their time on the world stage in our photo gallery.
Australia’s peak body representing obstetricians and gynaecologists has revealed it was subpoenaed for information about Emil Shawky Gayed 18 years ago. But the disgraced doctor was not barred from practising until 2016. Four public hospitals in NSW are the subject of an independent inquiry ordered by the health department after revelations by Guardian Australia that Gayed unnecessarily operated on women who could have been treated with painkillers and bed rest, and needlessly removed some women’s reproductive organs. One woman died. An expert from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said it was “not uncommon” for court authorities to request information about a college member.
Labor has warned the government that new subsidies for coal as part of any internal settlement on the national energy guarantee will scuttle the chances of securing peace after 10 years of warring over climate and energy policy. The shadow climate change minister, Mark Butler, told Guardian Australia that the construction of any new coal-fired power stations “will paralyse Australia’s transition to clean energy” and “run against all the advice of industry and business, including Snowy Hydro”. The warning comes as Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday cleared the decks to take the Neg to a critical meeting of state and territory energy ministers in August, but despite the victory he still faces a noisy internal campaign to give coal a fillip.
The Lord’s prayer would be abolished from the start of Senate sittings under a push instigated by the Greens. Today Senator Lee Rhiannon will move a motion for a Senate inquiry into the proposed alternative: “Senators, let us in silence pray or reflect upon our responsibilities to all people of Australia and to future generations.” The plan is supported by a letter signed by progressive religious leaders. Senate sittings begin with the Lord’s prayer, a Christian prayer including the words “our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”. Rhiannon said the statement that opens parliament “should be inclusive of people of all beliefs and faiths”.
Sport
Denmark and France are through to the final 16 of the World Cup after drawing 0-0 in their match overnight. Argentina have squeezed through to the knockout stages after a superb late volley secured victory over Nigeria, and Iceland have bowed out after a 2-1 defeat by Croatia.
The controversial use of VAR technology has been one of the most hotly debated topics of the tournament – so what’s the verdict so far? The divisive calls in the Iran v Portugal and Morocco v Spain matches proved that VAR can create as many arguments as it resolves but in other areas it has worked well, writes Sachin Nakrani.
Thinking time
Hannah Gadsby’s trailbrazing standup show Nanette was a gamechanger when it toured in Australia – but now that it’s on Netflix, it has set the internet alight. Don’t expect the classic set-up/punchline joke format though. “Gadsby wields her craft like a weapon, lancing out [her] trauma and forcing us to look at it,” writes Jane Howard. “And by opening out from a two-act joke to a three-act story, she creates the space for audiences to build on this third act themselves.”
Fernanda Dahlstrom grew up with her mother behind bars and believed her to be an innocent woman persecuted by the system. Later, as a junior solicitor with the Aboriginal legal service in the Northern Territory, she saw the failures of the whitefella legal system up close, and came to realise her whole understanding of the world was built on a lie.
“Not every day was like Trainspotting.” Darren McGarvey – better known as the rapper Loki – grew up in a Glasgow mired by poverty, addiction and abuse. His memoir, Poverty Safari, has been awarded an Orwell prize, not just for its gritty depiction of urban Scottish slums but its redemptive message of hope. “People who enjoy my work are coming for that dialogue as I’m working things out,” says McGarvey. “In an age where everyone appears to be very sure of what’s wrong ... there’s a real appetite for people who are openly expressing uncertainty and ambiguity and a willingness to change their view.”
What’s he done now?
Donald Trump has picked an unlikely foe to direct his Twitter wrath towards: the motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson. The president warned the company: “A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! ... If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end – they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!”
Media roundup
A hand-drawn map led police to uncover a record haul of methamphetamine after a five-month sting operation that thwarted a plan to import the largest shipment of ice in Australia’s history, the West Australian reports. The Australian splashes with Bill Shorten’s plan to claw back $20bn in tax from 20,000 Australian businesses in a move the newspaper describes as “risk-laden”. Compulsory scanning of ID cards at bars and clubs in major Queensland cities after 10pm is “losing money’ for operators, the ABC reports.
Coming up
The NSW police review into investigations into historical deaths potentially motivated by gay-hate bias will be released today.
There will be a timely speech by the Huawei chairman, John Lord, at the National Press Club as parliament debates laws on foreign interference.
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