‘Trump lashes out’ and diabetes ‘epidemic’

The explosive claim by Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen – that the president ordered him to use election funds to pay-off two women – is the dominant story.

It is the lead for the Times, the Financial Times and the i. The Times says the prospect of impeachment is beginning to hang over the White House.

“Trump’s presidency thrown into jeopardy”, is the headline in the “i”.

The Sun points out that it took two journalists to bring down Richard Nixon over Watergate – but Mr Trump could be toppled by a porn star and a pin-up.

The Spectator website says Mr Cohen’s accusation in court – coupled with the conviction of his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, on fraud charges on the same day – constitute a mortal blow to his already tottering presidency.

For the Huffpost UK website, Mr Trump’s future in the White House looks ever more uncertain, after one of the most significant and potentially damning weeks of his presidency.

Yet – the Telegraph says Democrats have been reluctant to make impeachment the core issue of the campaign for the mid-term elections in November.

According to the Times, they fear that focusing on the subject will bring out President Trump’s core vote and keep Republicans in charge of congress.

The Buzzfeed news website adds that – perhaps more importantly – it could divert money and attention from issues where the Democrats believe they have a distinct advantage over Republicans, such as health care, tax and the separation of immigrant families.

According to the Telegraph’s lead, the Labour leader also plans to force the BBC to declare the social class of its presenters and journalists in an effort to improve its diversity.

But the Conservative MP, Damian Collins – chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee – tells the paper his concern is that this is another step down the road of questioning a journalist’s credibility.

The Mail and the Mirror lead on a warning by the British Heart Foundation that the rising tide of Type 2 diabetes could trigger a 29% increase in heart attacks and strokes linked to the condition by 2035.

The Mail says the charity’s report lays bare the consequences of the diabetes epidemic.

In the Mirror’s view, much more needs to be done to encourage people to eat better and take more exercise.

According to the Sun’s main story, the Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has stunned military chiefs with what it calls crackpot ideas to solve a cash shortage for buying new equipment.

It says they include fitting tractors with guns, disguising mobile missile defence systems as Coca-Cola lorries and turning old commercial ferries into assault craft.

A source is quoted as saying: “The man is out of his mind. No one knows what to do.”

Finally, should children give up train seats for adults?

The Mail says the former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, Sheila Fogarty, has provoked a row on Twitter by saying that fit and healthy children should never take a seat in a busy carriage if they are old enough to stand.

According to the paper, the broadcaster – who now works for LBC – spoke out after sharing a London Underground compartment where a family with three boys aged around 10 to 13 all had their own seats while the adults stood.

Twitter users were quick to agree, with one commenting: “Oh they’re tired are they? So am I and I’ve been tired for three more decades than them.”