Top story: ‘Good job Jeff’

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Donald Trump has stepped up attacks on his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, over charges against two Republican congressmen that the president says have jeopardised the party’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections.

Duncan Hunter, a California representative, has been charged with misuse of campaign funds, while Chris Collins of New York is under indictment for insider trading. “Two easy wins now in doubt … Good job Jeff,” tweeted Trump, appearing to suggest Sessions should have used his office to delay the cases for the Republican party’s political gain. Trump has indicated he might fire Sessions after the midterm elections, which would be seen as a step towards removing the Trump-Russia investigator Robert Mueller.

Meanwhile, the New Yorker has rescinded an invitation to Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, to headline its October festival after an outcry. An interview with the far-right figure has just aired in Australia, with Bannon telling the national broadcaster’s Four Corners programme that the country is on the frontline of an “economic war” between the west and “mercantilist, totalitarian China”.

Old at heart – Almost four-fifths of people in England who took a “heart age” survey are at risk of early death, leading doctors have warned. They were found to have a heart that was “older” than their chronological age – in some cases, by 10 years. The disclosure prompted calls for Britons to ditch unhealthy lifestyles and monitor their health more closely to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Here is how the heart age test works and how to take it. Public Health England says everyone over 30 should take the test – more than 1.9 million have already – and, if necessary, take urgent action to reduce their risk.

‘Chuck Chequers’ – Whitehall sources have insisted Theresa May is prepared to “go into battle” to deliver on her Chequers plan. No 10 has slapped down Boris Johnson for his critical column in the Daily Telegraph. Brexiters are claiming the PM will struggle to get the numbers behind her and could face “the abject humiliation of being defeated in the Commons on Chequers”. In other Brexit news this morning, power companies have warned of higher utility bills if, after going their separate ways, the EU and UK start charging each other for using gas and electricity interconnectors between Britain and the continent.

On the Labour side of politics, the party’s national executive will wrangle with the issue of antisemitism when it meets today. It is expected to adopt a full internationally endorse definition of antisemitism, while emphasising the right to non-racist free speech when discussing Israeli politics

Planning legal action – The government is facing a court challenge over its new planning policy, known as the NPPF, because the government did not get an environmental assessment. Friends of the Earth says the NPPF makes it “virtually impossible” for councils to refuse fracking schemes, fails to rule out coal developments or building on green belts, and introduces harsh rules for wind farms. The environmental group has notified the housing secretary, James Brokenshire, that it is taking the matter to the high court.

‘Let foreign students stay on’ – British universities have called for a return to letting overseas students stay in the country and work after graduation for up to two years. Universities UK warns in a briefing to parliament today that rival countries are attracting international students at a much faster rate than the UK. In 2012 Britain abandoned the post-study visa amid a crackdown on student overstayers. But Sir Steve Smith, the Exeter University vice-chancellor, says Theresa May’s claim at the time of many foreign students failing to return home has since been discredited. He said a Britain headed for Brexit should “make a grand statement about welcoming in a new era where global talent can come to this country and study”, then stay on to work, boosting productivity in the economy.

Women’s hour – Rob Burley, the editor of the BBC’s new lunchtime show Politics Live has defended the selection of an all-female panel for its first episode, saying he had “zero shame” about it. The episode on Monday was hosted by Jo Coburn and featured MPs Emily Thornberry and Amber Rudd, as well as the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg, the Guardian’s joint political editor Anushka Asthana and the Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey. Some took umbrage with the panel, saying it was “gimmicky” or comparing it to the chat show Loose Women. But the former Labour politician Sarah Hayward said it was “fantastic”, tweeting: “We’re 15 minutes into Newsnight and the four speakers have all been white men. Still a way to go …”

Lunchtime read: Was Atlanticism already sunk before Trump?

“Is the Trans-Atlantic Relationship Dead?” asked the New York Times in January. A few weeks later it rang a more definite note: “The Post-World War II Order Is Under Assault From the Powers That Built It.” In Germany, the heart of the Europe-US alliance, there is talk of little else when it comes to foreign policy.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in Canada. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The idea that the world’s stability and prosperity is defined primarily by a partnership between Europeans and Americans is called Atlanticism or transatlanticism. The people who care about it are convinced that Trump is out to tear up the alliance. But the partnership has long been a convenient myth, writes Madeleine Schwartz.

Sport

At the US Open, John Millman has just produced the performance of his career to knock out Roger Federer with a stunning 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3) victory. The Australian Millman, ranked 55 in the world, capitalised on sloppy serving from Federer to move into a quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray has decided to continue work on his slow and difficult return to full fitness rather than play for Great Britain in the Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan, which starts in Glasgow a week on Friday.

The Premiership season is barely one game old but Leicester have already seen enough to persuade them to part company with their head coach, Matt O’Connor. England’s top run scorer, Alastair Cook, who has announced his retirement from Test cricket, always gave the impression he was able to concentrate more easily than any of his peers and, once set, he was a predictable run-making machine, writes Vic Marks. England have been dealt a blow before their first fixtures since the World Cup after Raheem Sterling withdrew from the squad for the Nations League tie against Spain and the friendly with Switzerland. And Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who sparked controversy by kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, will be the face of a Nike ad campaign for the 30th anniversary of its “Just Do It” motto.

Business

The Argentinian peso is expected to come under further pressure today despite an announcement by President Mauricio Macri of spending cuts and export taxes to stem the fall of the currency. The markets were underwhelmed by Macri’s plans and the peso dropped 4% to fresh record lows as the economy continues to be squeezed by rising US interest rates. The pound was another currency heading downwards and is buying $1.286 and €1.108. That was at least good news for the FTSE100, which rose 1%, but it is expected to dip slightly at the open this morning.

The papers

The Guardian’s splash is “Unhealthy lifestyles put four in five adults at risk of early death”, citing Public Health England data and its online “heart age” calculator. The FT leads on Argentina under the headline “Macri unveils ‘emergency’ austerity drive to calm markets and lenders”. The Telegraph has “‘Anti-Semitic’ activist voted on to Labour ruling body”. The Times reports “Police given more power to stop and search”, in what it describes as a “challenge to Theresa May and her legacy as home secretary”.

More woe is reported for May on other front pages, this time over Brexit. The i covers Justine Greening and Jacob Rees-Mogg hitting out at her Chequers plan: “PM under siege from Brexit rebels”. The Express has a striking front page where Boris Johnson and May face off under the headline “Boris v May”. The Mail’s splash is “The shaming of Facebook”, asking why it will not hand over the password to the account of a suspect in the murder of a 13-year-old girl. Chris Evans quitting the BBC to return to Virgin Radio features on the fronts of the Sun and Mirror. The latter leads with “Pay storm Evans quits BBC”, whereas the Sun goes with “Evans sent”, playing with Evans’s comment that Virgin Radio was his “spiritual home”.

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