Donald Trump has stormed out of the Supreme Court as one of his keystone policies came under the scrutiny of a sceptical bench.

Trump became the first president to attend a Supreme Court hearing in person to hear arguments on his birthright citizenship policy.

The president entered the courtroom without fanfare and was not acknowledged by the judges.

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After an hour sitting several rows back from the front of the public gallery, he got up and walked out.

He did not have another event on his schedule for 90 minutes after he left.

The president is looking to overturn a 1868 constitutional amendment, which automatically grants citizenship to anybody born on US soil.

But the judges did not appear to be impressed by his administration's case.

Solicitor-general John Sauer argued the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment "was adopted just after the Civil War to grant citizenship to the newly freed slaves and their children".

"The clause thus does not extend citizenship to the children of temporary visa holders or illegal aliens," Sauer said.

"Unlike the newly freed slaves, those visitors lack direct and immediate allegiance to the United States."

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Even the conservative wing of the Supreme Court was sceptical of Sauer's argument.

"The examples you give to support that strike me as very quirky, children of ambassadors, children of enemies during a hostile invasion, children on warships," Chief Justice John Roberts said.

"Then you expand it to a whole class of illegal aliens are – are here in the country."

Sauer said there were eight billion people who were a plane ride away from having a child who is a US citizen.

"Well, it's a new world," Roberts said. "It's the same constitution."

Trump-appointed judge Neil Gorsuch pointed out that immigration laws were far stricter now than they were in 1868.

The president later wrote about the case on Truth Social.

"We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship!" Trump said.

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That claim, which has been made multiple times by the administration, is not true. About 30 countries, mostly in the Americas, have birthright citizenship.

The Supreme Court likely won't issue a ruling on this case for several months, but judicial experts believe they will likely side against Trump.

The Trump administration would look to replace birthright citizenship with one where a child's status would be determined by their parents' citizenship.

Trump's Scottish-born mother became a US citizen in 1942, four years before he was born.

His father Fred was born to German immigrant parents.

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Fuel supplies are quickly drying up on farms and abattoirs around Australia, which could result in a nationwide red meat shortage.

A survey conducted by the Red Meat ­Advisory Council (RMAC) has found that 85 per cent of red meat producers only have enough fuel to keep operations going for one more week.

Less that half of producers are confident that they could stretch their supplies to meet supermarket quotas for the remainder of the US-led war on Iran, which Donald Trump flagged could last for at least another three weeks.

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April and May are peak periods for red meat producers, with demand ramping up during the Easter holidays and pre-winter season.

"This isn't a future problem – it's happening now," council independent chair John McKillop said.

"Producers are already facing difficult decisions, including the potential early slaughter of ­animals, where access to feed, water and transport cannot be guaranteed."

The RMAC has warned that the industry could soon be under "severe strain" if fuel supplies are not directed back to farming and regional communities.

"Up to 76 per cent of producers identified April and May as a peak period when reliable fuel access is absolutely critical," he said.

"Without it, they simply cannot operate."

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Shoppers won't arrive to empty supermarket fridges, but the variety of meats could reduce and prices could rise over the next fortnight.

Australian farmers rely heavily on diesel to operate machinery and feed stock.

Rising freight costs may also contribute to the increased price of red meat at the checkout.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) previously urged the federal government to devise a plan to keep fuel flowing to regional areas – and fast.

While the government announced a three-month reduction of the fuel excise, producers say this isn't enough.

"Halving the fuel excise will provide relief for consumers, but it does little directly for farmers and we hold concerns about the impact this policy may have on overall fuel demand," NFF President Hamish McIntyre said.

"Now we have the beginnings of a national framework, farmers and fishers need a clear, agriculture-specific plan so they can make informed decisions about planting, harvesting and keeping food moving across the country."

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History has been made today with NASA's rocket blasting off to the moon with four astronauts on board.

It is humanity's first trip to the moon in more than half a century.

Crowds cheered and whooped at Florida's Space View Park as they watched the astronauts take off for the Artemis II mission at 9.38am AEDT.

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Three male and one female astronauts are on board the rocket for the 10-day mission: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director, bid farewell to the astronauts with these words: "On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation.

"Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let's go."

Five minutes into the flight, Commander Wiseman had his eye on the team's target: "We have a beautiful moonrise, we're headed right at it," he said from the capsule.

The rocket will travel a few thousand kilometres beyond the moon, perform a U-turn and then come straight back. There will be no moon landing this time, but the mission is a pivotal step towards NASA's push towards humans setting foot on the moon again in two years.

The rocket launch appeared to go almost seamlessly, after engineers performed a last-minute check on an abnormal battery reading, before giving it the all clear. 

Earlier today, NASA fuelled its moon rocket. Tensions were high as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket hours ahead of the planned launch.

Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.

But no significant leaks occurred by the time Wednesday's fuelling wrapped up.

The launch team loaded more than 2.6 million litres of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, setting the stage for the Artemis II crew to board.

"It is time to fly," Commander Reid Wiseman said on the eve of launch via X.

Three Americans and one Canadian will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting – then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown.

They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have travelled from Earth as they zoom some 6,400 kilometres beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.

Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.

Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

"The next era of exploration begins," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.

Best wishes have already started to pour in, including from King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Hansen will become the first non-US citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.

"In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations," the King wrote in a letter to Hansen, "and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold".

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UK prosecutors have confirmed they are providing advice to police during the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested as part of a police investigation and detained for hours earlier this year, is being investigated over suspicions he possibly passed on classified information to Epstein while acting as the UK's trade envoy.

The former prince was released without charge after his arrest and two properties where he had resided were searched by officers.

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Now, multiple UK outlets, including the BBC, are reporting the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it is providing advice to police on the case.

"We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force's investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested," a statement provided to the BBC read.

"We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man."

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Mountbatten-Windsor is the 66-year-old man, while the 72-year-old man is understood to be former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, who has also been linked to Epstein.

Mandelson is suspected of passing on market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a UK government minister.

Both Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson have had communications with Esptein published by the US Justice Department.

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Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing in his association with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in US custody in 2019.

Mandelson, who was arrested and released without charge earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has claimed he was unaware of any criminal activities by Epstein and expressed sympathy for his victims.

Crown prosecutors often provide advice to police during investigations, particularly those that are high-profile or stretch back years.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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With the Easter break right around the corner, last-minute chocolate purchases for the long weekend will be a little harder than usual, as supermarkets and big stores shut nationwide.

While most stores will be shut on Friday, there are some exceptions and varying trading hours until Monday.

Here's what you need to know about when and where you can shop this Easter long weekend.

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Westfield

Good Friday

Westfield shopping centres will be closed on Good Friday.

For the rest of the long weekend, they will be mostly open with varying trading hours.

Easter Saturday

Most Westfield centres will be open from 9am to 5pm, with some stores across NSW and Victoria with varying trade hours.

Easter Sunday and Monday

Westfield centres will open with reduced public holiday hours in all states, except South Australia, where they will be closed.

Opening hours vary by store, and customers are encouraged to check the Westfield website for trading hours.

Coles

Good Friday

All Coles stores across Australia will be shut except for some in Western Australia and South Australia.

Easter Saturday

All stores will be open with reduced trading hours in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. 

Easter Sunday and Monday

All Coles stores will be open with reduced trading hours, except some in South Australia, which will be closed.

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Woolworths

Good Friday

All Woolworths stores across Australia will be shut except for some in Western Australia, South Australia and the Brisbane Airport store.

Easter Saturday

On Easter Saturday, all Woolworths stores will be open, with certain Metro stores closed nationwide. 

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, a large number of stores across the ACT, NSW, South Australia and the Northern Territory will be closed.

Most Woolworths stores across other states are expected to remain open with a few exceptions. 

Easter Monday

Most Woolworths stores across Australia will be open on Easter Monday, with exceptions in some states.

Customers are encouraged to check the Woolworths website for their local store hours over the long weekend.

Aldi

Good Friday

Aldi stores will be closed nationwide on Good Friday. 

Easter Saturday

All Aldi stores will be open on Easter Saturday. 

Easter Sunday

Stores will be open on Easter Sunday with varying hours across NSW, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT.

Easter Monday 

All Aldi stores will be open on Easter Monday, with varying hours in South Australia.

Customers are encouraged to check the Aldi website for their local store hours over the long weekend.

Target

Good Friday

All Target stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

All Target stores across Australia will be open on Easter Saturday except for some stores across Victoria, Queensland and NSW.

Easter Sunday

All Target stores across Australia will be open on Easter Sunday except for some stores across the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and NSW.

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Kmart

Good Friday

All Kmart stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

Kmart stores will be open on Easter Saturday with varying hours in some locations.

Easter Sunday

Most Kmart stores will be open on Easter Saturday, with some closed in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.

Bunnings Warehouse

Bunnings stores will be closed on Good Friday and open across the remainder of the Easter long weekend.

Easter Sunday trading hours vary by location, with some stores closed.

Customers are encouraged to check the Bunnings website for their local store hours.

Big W

Good Friday 

All Big W stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

Big W stores across Australia will be open with reduced trading hours in some states.

Easter Sunday

Stores nationwide will be open except in NSW, South Australia and the ACT.

Easter Monday

Stores nationwide will be open except in South Australia.

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BWS

Good Friday

All BWS stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday except for a select few in South Australia.

Easter Saturday

All BWS stores across Australia will be open on Easter Saturday.

Easter Sunday and Monday

Most BWS stores will be open nationwide with limited trading hours.

Customers are encouraged to check the BWS website for their local store hours.

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Dan Murphy's

Good Friday

All BWS stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

All Dan Murphy's stores will be open with normal trading hours. 

Easter Sunday

Most Dan Murphy's stores will be open with normal trading hours except Cellar stores, which will be closed. 

Easter Monday

All Dan Murphy's stores will be open from 10am to 7pm. 

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Donald Trump has decided the rest of the world will clean up his oil spill.

After the US president claimed US troops will leave Iran within "two weeks, maybe three", there has been tentative relief over the possibility of the conflict in the Middle East winding down.

But as for the Strait of Hormuz and the global oil crisis the conflict triggered? Well, that's everyone else's problem.

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Trump appears to have washed his hands of the Strait of Hormuz and has little sympathy for US allies who are grappling with soaring oil prices.

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!"

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the world's oil supply, has been effectively closed since the war in began after Iran began targeting commercial ships.

For some time, an effective end to the war on Iran has felt dependent on prying back open the strait.

Now, it seems, Trump is more than willing to finish the US campaign without loosening Tehran's grip on the waterway.

However, Trump's suggestion that the US will not assist in reopening the strait to ships might be a slight exaggeration.

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Adjunct professor with the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute Jennifer Parker said she expects there will be heavy US involvement in any diplomatic negotiation with Iran.

"You've got to remember with President Trump, he'll say one thing one day and another thing another day," Parker told nine.com.au.

"I don't think, despite Trump's comments, that the US will not be engaged in [opening the strait].

"I think those tweets are unhelpful. But I don't think that the US will walk away from that problem."

The Trump administration previously threatened to forbibly take control of the Strait of Hormuz "one way or another".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it may happen a few different ways, one of which could see a coalition of nations intervene to allow traffic back into the waterway.

Parker said, even if the conflict ends overnight, it will take a delicate operation to ensure ships can safely pass through.

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"There'll need to be a consistent campaign of making sure that civilian ships feel safe to go through the Strait," she said.

"And that will involve military patrols, it may well involve some escorts, it will involve strategic communications and broader naval presence.

"And then my view is that that will involve a coalition of some sorts."

Parker said she is almost certain that the US would be part of this coalition, despite his recent verbal retaliation against key allies.

"I think that they will play a leading role, as they have always done, in terms of the maritime security around that Strait," she added.

But Trump's words on Truth Social will carry some meaning.

The president's worldview stems from the Reagan-era of an aggressive US superpower, where allies will respond swiftly to a call to arms.

Parker doesn't believe this is entirely "unfair".

"Where it becomes unreasonable, though, is the way that Trump expresses that," she added.

"You also can't say that alliances also don't depend on trust and political suitability.

"I do think that it does undermine public trust in those alliances."

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