Newspaper headlines: Tory rivals condemn Trump's tweets and police to launch e-scooter 'blitz' By BBC News

Staff Published duration 16 July 2019

image copyright Reuters image caption Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib dismissed President Trump's remarks as a distraction

Many of Tuesday's papers feature the row President Trump is embroiled in over his attacks on four congresswomen of colour.

"Boris blasts Trump" is the headline in the Daily Mail , which says Boris Johnson "rounded" on the US president in Monday night's Conservative leadership debate.

The Daily Mirror , though, is deeply unimpressed that Mr Johnson - as well as his rival Jeremy Hunt - stopped short of calling Mr Trump a racist. It describes the president as a "loathsome oaf" who Mr Johnson "sides with at every opportunity".

The Guardian quotes a former Republican aide, Kurt Bardella, who draws a starker conclusion. The reason the party has said nothing over this, and previous incidents, is that they "agree with Mr Trump and his racism."

In its analysis, the Times suggests Mr Trump's outburst has less to do with his own supporters and more to do with trying to catch the attention of people inclined to back his political rivals.

Polling indicates that the four women he criticised, and their left-wing politics, are unpopular with white, less well-educated Democrats - exactly the demographic his previous electoral success was based on.

Many of the papers also take a closer look at Monday's Tory leadership head-to-head.

image copyright PA Media image caption Tory leadership rivals Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt at the hustings inside the Sun's London offices

In its leader column, the Sun - which hosted the event - describes it as "feisty, fascinating and revealing".

Mr Johnson remains the favourite - it declares - but both men would make a "decent PM".

The Daily Telegraph leads on a report, commissioned by the armed forces, which has found senior male officers are "20 years out of touch" on racism, sexism and bullying.

It says the review speaks of "a pack mentality" among "middle-aged men in positions of influence."

One retired senior officer tells the paper he "winces" at the suggestion that a "champion" for changing the military's culture is needed.

But, in its editorial, the Telegraph concludes that the behaviour of the past is no longer acceptable - especially given the recruitment crisis the forces are facing.

Government figures reported in the Times show that - for the first time - there are more black, Asian and minority ethnic youths in young offender institutions and secure units than white people.

Youth justice campaigners claim it demonstrates the extent to which the criminal justice system is "disproportionately propelling black and minority ethnic children into prison".

The Ministry of Justice tells the Times the issues behind the problem begin long before they enter the criminal justice system - and are being actively investigated.

'Toxic threat'

The Daily Mail leads on a report by the Commons environmental audit committee which warns of a "toxic threat to babies in the womb" posed by chemicals commonly found in the home.

The potential impact on health is "frightening", the paper says, with British women having the world's second highest rate of flame retardant in their breast milk.

The Daily Mirror says food banks fear this summer will be their busiest yet - as parents who rely on free school meals in term time "struggle to feed their kids during the holidays."

The Trussell Trust - which operates many food banks - says it will do what it can to help, but no charity can replace the dignity of having enough money for the basics.

The Financial Times focuses on Sports Direct delaying the publication of its full year results because its auditors refused to sign off the accounts.

The paper says it's "dealt a blow" to owner Mike Ashley's "assault on the high street" which has included buying House of Fraser and Evans Cycles.

One analyst says it's a serious issue because delaying financial results tends to lead to investors "running for the hills".

image copyright MoneySavingExpert.com image caption Bulb customers said their displays were showing the text "defnydd heddiw", meaning "usage today"

Finally, the Daily Telegraph reports that a number of smart meters supplied by the firm Bulb have randomly switched from English to Welsh - requiring users to navigate a five-step menu in Welsh to rectify the problem.

Bulb, which has 1.3 million customers, says the problem only affects one in 200 of its smart meters and is the result of a software issue.