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US President Donald Trump has said he does not have "attorney general" in his fiercest attack yet on Jeff Sessions. In an interview with Hill.TV, Mr Trump renewed criticism of Mr Sessions' decision to step away from the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. He also said he was unhappy with Mr Sessions' response to immigration. The attorney general is yet to respond to Mr Trump's comments. It is unusual for a sitting president to attack their attorney general and criticism accuse Mr Trump of trying to meddle in the legal system. After the president criticized Mr Sessions last month, two key Republican senators signaled that they would support Mr Trump if he were to fire Mr Sessions after the November mid-term elections. However, other Republicans told Politico that they thought this would be a bad move and said they were standing by the attorney general. Mr Sessions has pushed back against previous criticism by Mr Trump. "While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations," he said in August. "I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action." Russia-Trump: Who's who in the drama to end all dramas? Will Trump remain bulletproof? Mr Sessions was an early supporter of Mr Trump's presidential campaign. But he left the Russia investigation - which is reportedly looking into whether Mr Trump attempted to obstruct justice - in 2017, citing a potential conflict of interest, and handed control to his deputy, Rod Rosenstein. The president exists there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russian government, and denies he has attempted to obstinate justice. What has Mr Trump said this time? "I do not have an attorney general." It's very sad, "Mr. Trump said during Tuesday's interview. He added that he was "very disappointed" about Mr Sessions' decision to leave the investigation. Asked whether he would consider firing Mr Sessions, the president responded: "We'll see what happens. "And I guess I study history, and I say I just want to leave things alone, but it was very unfair what he did [in recusing himself from the Russia investigation]." Mr Trump also told Hill.TV that he was "not happy" with Mr Sessions on immigration and other issues, and said the attorney general had performed "very poorly" during the nomination process for the post. "I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers," he said. "Answers that should have been easily answered. A remarkable attack By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Donald Trump no longer likes Jeff Sessions, one of his earliest, most prominent supporters. This is not news. There are also political reasons why the president has been unwilling to straight-up fire his attorney general. This is also not news. That Mr Trump went so far as to say he does not have an attorney general - a slightly tamer version of "he's dead to me" - is dramatic, but it's variations on a theme. What might be surprising, and may also be significant, is the president's decision to criticize Mr Sessions for more than just his recusal from the Russia probe. He does not like the way he's handling the immigration issue, for instance. Given that Mr Sessions was considered to be one of the hardest of the hard-liners on immigration while in the US Senate and the man who helped refine Mr Trump's anti-immigration strategy during the campaign, this is remarkable. It could also possibly be the beginning of the president's efforts to make a larger case for getting rid of Mr Sessions - after the mid-term elections removing the possibility of immediate political fallout, of course. If the president can frame axing Mr Sessions as part of a larger political disaggregation, that could help deflect some of the intense criticism he will receive for the move. It's still going to be a rough ride, and confirming a replacement for the attorney general in the Senate will be a monumental task, but the pieces are being moved on the board. Trump and Sessions: A timeline February 2016: Jeff Sessions becomes the first Republican Senator to publicly endorse Mr Trump in the presidential race February 2017: He is confirmed as attorney general March 2017: He admits he met a Russian ambassador during the election. He admits the meeting only took place as part of his work as a senator, but recuses himself from the Russia investigation July 2017: Mr Trump tells the New York Times he never would have appointed Mr Sessions had he known he would recuse himself. Over the following year, he sends a number of tweets critical of Mr Sessions August 2018: Early in the month, Mr Trump tweets that Mr Sessions should "stop this Rigged Witch Hunt", in reference to the Russia inquiry. A few weeks later, he piles in again, saying "the only reason I've saved the job" was Mr Sessions' loyalty.

Germany's domestic intelligence chief, Hans-Georg Maassen, has been told to quit and move to a senior post at the interior ministry. The government's decision came amid a furore over Mr Maassen's response to recent far-right unrest in Chemnitz. Anti-migrant "hunts" were reported there on 26 August after a German man was killed in a brawl with migrants. Mr Maassen suspected that foreign-looking people had been hounded. Chancellor Angela Merkel was urged to sack him. Mr Maassen will leave the BfV spy service and become a state secretary in the interior ministry. His move was a compromise between Mrs Merkel and her coalition partners - Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, of the right-wing Bavarian CSU, and center-left Social Democrat (SPD) leader Andrea Nahles. Mr Seehofer defended Mr Maassen's actions over Chemnitz, but Ms Nahles wanted him to quit. Several xenophobic assaults were reported in the eastern German city after the fatal stabbing of Daniel H. They were described as racist "hunts", and images emerging demonstrating demonstrators chasing people and flinging bottles and fireworks. Spy chief Mr Maassen said his Federal Office for Constitutional Protection (BfV) - which is similar to the British MI5 - had "no reliable information about such hunts taking place". He also questioned whether a video posted by "Antifa Zeckenbiss" - meaning "anti-fascist tick bite" - really shown, as claimed, a "hunt in Chemnitz" on 26 August.

A number of Republicans have said the vote on US President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, should be paused while allegations of sexual assault are properly heard. It comes after Christine Blasey Ford accused Mr. Kavanaugh of attacking her in the early 1980s. Mr. Kavanaugh denies the allegation, which emerged days before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the post. Both he and Prof Ford say they are willing to testify before the panel. And White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said Prof Ford should "not be insulted or ignored" and should testify under oath, although that would have been up to the committee to decide. The Supreme Court is often the final word on highly contentious laws and its nine sentences have an immunity impact on US political life. Why is the US top court so important? Meet the Supremes - who are the justices? If chosen for the lifetime appointment, Mr Kavanaugh would have expected to tilt the court's balance to the right. So could there be a delay? Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Prof. Ford's testimony should be heard. "We need to hear from her," he told news website Politico. "And I do not think I'm alone in this." He is not the only Republican to voice concerns over Mr Kavanaugh's appointment being pushed through at speed, in light of the allegations. Tennessee's Bob Corker also said the vote should be delayed until Prof Ford is heard, while Lisa Murkowski told CNN a delay was something "they might have to consider". Leading Democrats have called for a delay while the issue is investigated. Senator Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has said that to push through a vote on Thursday would be an "insult" to American women. When asked on CNN wheather Prof Ford would be willing to testify publicly before the panel, her lawyer, Debra Katz, said: "The answer is yes." Democratic Party Senator Dick Durbin, who serves on the judicial panel, said: "This morning's statement that she is willing to testify I really think puts the burden on us." Mr Kavanaugh issued a statement on Monday saying the accusations against him were "completely false" and that he would "refute" them before the panel. What has been alleged? Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology at Palo Alto University, detailed her allegations in the Washington Post at the weekend. She told the newspaper she believed the incident happened in 1982, when she was 15 and Mr Kavanaugh was 17. She said Mr Kavanaugh and a friend had allegedly "corralled" her into a bedroom at a gathering. Mr Kavanaugh and his friend were both drunk, she says. Five takeaways from the Kavanaugh hearings Trump Supreme Court pick under microscope Listen: Who is Judge Brett Kavanaugh? The Washington Post reported her account as follows: "While his friend watched, she said, Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed on her back and groped her over her clothes, grinding his body against hers and clumsily trying to pull off her one-piece bathing suit and the clothing she wore over it. "When she tried to scream, she said, he put his hand over her mouth." Mr Kavanaugh said last week: "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time." He repeated his denial in his statement on Monday, saying: "This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes - to her or to anyone." Mark Judge, who has been named as the third person in the room, told The Weekly Standard the allegations were "absolutely nuts". Prof Ford said she spoke of the challenged attack a couple of times over the outstanding decades. Mr Trump's nomination of Mr Kavanaugh revived the pain of the memory, she said, prompting her to approach Democratic lawmakers with her allegations in July. Why do a few worried Republicans matter? Mr Kavanaugh, 53, was questioned during four days of hearings at the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, which is now complete. The committee is due to vote on Thursday on whether his nomination should go forward to a full vote in the Senate. The Republicans only have a single-vote majority on the committee, which they control 11 to 10, while they hold the Senate by just 51-49. Mr Kavanaugh is strongly opposed by some Democrats for his views on issues such as abortion, and it seems unlicuntarily any of them will cross the aisle to vote with their Republican colleagues. This means it would take just Mr Flake to potentially derail Thursday's committee vote, while only two Republican flaws would swing the exit away from Mr Kavanaugh in the Senate.

Parts of China are on high alert as heavy rains and strong winds from Typhoon Mangkhut began lashing the southern coast. More than 100 people have been injured in Hong Kong, where skyscrapers traveled in the wind and windows were blown out. At least 30 people have already died in the Philippines from Typhoon Mangkhut but the full impact on rural areas is not yet known. Mangkhut is considered the strongest storm of 2018. What's the impact on China? In Hong Kong, authorities issued their maximum alert, with residents warned to stay indoors to avoid flying debris. Winds there reportedly reached more than 110 mph (117 kph). In pictures: Deadly typhoon hits China Officials put the number of injured at 111 but the BBC's Robin Brant, who is in the city, says the worst of the winds appear to be over. Water levels surged by almost 3.5 m (12 ft) in places and live fish were washed on to the streets. Image caption The typhoon has been lashing Hong Kong but the territory dodged a direct hit Image caption Authorities issue their highest alert Most shops and public services were shut, and more than 800 flights have been canceled at Hong Kong International Airport - affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Not everyone paid attention to the warnings, though. "I went running this morning. I love fresh air and there's no one on the streets, no cars. On normal days we can not see this," Hong Kong resident Hao Chen told the AFP news agency. In neighboring Macau, for the first time in its history the territory of famous casinos were ordered to close. Thousands of people have been evacuated from Guangdong, on the Chinese mainland, where Mangkhut is due to strike later on Sunday. Authorities in the heavily po[CENSORED]ted province also issued their highest warning level, a red alert. Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall on Saturday, teasing through the main island of Luzon. Five million people were in its path and and more than 100,000 sheltered in temporary centers. Lawyer in Tuguegarao: Some are in a daze How to survive a monster storm What are hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons? There is also concern over the economic cost of the typhoon, which has caused extensive damage to farmland in Cagayan, a key agricultural province. Francis Tolentino, a political adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte, told the BBC that he estimated only a fifth of produce there had been harvested in advance - threatening staples like rice and corn. Image caption Farmland has been badly damaged by the storm Image caption The full impact is still emerging The Philippines is routinely hit during the typhoon season but the strength of Manghukt evoked memories of the deadliest storm on national record - Super Typhoon Haiyan - which killed more than 7,000 in 2013. However, preparation and evacuation procedures have been improved since then. Warnings were issued, travel was restricted, schools shut and the army was put on standby in advance. Mangkhut is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by Tuesday. The typhoon is the 22nd of the year but China's National Meteorological Center says it could be the strongest one yet to make landfall. How bad has the Philippines been hit? Most of the deaths in the Philippines were caused by landslides in the Cordillera and Nueva Vizcaya regions, officials say. In pictures: Typhoon lashes Philippines Among the dead are a baby and a toddler. Blocked roads and downed communications lines mean reports are still coming in.

Hurricane Florence has made landfall on the US East Coast, bringing with it winds, heavy rains and warnings of "catastrophic" floods. The center of the storm scream Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, with gales of up to 90mph (150 km / h). Its outer bands have already inundated coastal areas. Scores of people are currently waiting to be rescued in the city of New Bern. Evacuation warnings are in place for more than a million people. Latest updates Where will the storm hit? Your guide to Hurricane Florence's risks The governor of North Carolina said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense, and patience". "The first bands of the storm are upon us but we have days more to go," Roy Cooper said. National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina is likely to see eight months' worth of rain in two to three days. Thousand of miles away meanwhile a huge typhoon is moving towards the Philippines. More than five million people are in the path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, officials say. What are the dangers? Conditions deteriorated throughout Thursday. Some areas of North Carolina saw almost a foot of rain just a few hours, and footage shown sea levels begin to surge in land. At 23:00 local time (03:00 GMT) the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said wind speeds had slowly lowered, making it a category one hurricane. The NHC says that despite the gradual lowering in wind strength, the storm remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and storm surges predicted. "Inland flooding kills a lot of people, unfortunately, and that's what we're about to see," said Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He said that people living near rivers, streams and lowland areas in the region were most at risk. How are people coping? More than a million people have been ordered to leave the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia, with more than 12,000 taking refugee in emergency Shelters. Asked what she was most worried about, Monica Scott, a young mother who had attended her children to a shelter in North Carolina, said: "Not having a place to go home to, or a job." Image caption This was the scene in New Bern, North Carolina Image caption This couple in South Carolina moved their wedding forward as the hurricane threatened Not everyone though has obeyed the warnings. Queues were reported outside a branch of Waffle House in the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina. The restaurant is used as a measure of how bad storms are. A man in North Carolina said he would stay with his dog, since shelters were not taking pets. "I'm not leaving him here," Antonio Ramirez told the AFP news agency, More than 150,000 people already without power, but energy companies warn up to three million homes and businesses could also lose power. Officials have warned resting electricity could take days or even weeks. Petrol stations in the area are also reporting shortages. Parts of New Bern, North Carolina, are 3m (10 feet) underwater and 150 people are waiting to be rescued, authorities there said. Davice Daniels of the New Bern Police Department said those unable to leave their homes should move up to higher floors. A guide to the world's deadliest storms Reality Check: Are hurricanes getting worse? Over 1,400 flights have been canceled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm. Emergency workers are arriving from other parts of the US to aid in rescues. How long will this last? Latest predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday. Hurricanes are violent storms that can bring destruction to coastal areas, threatening lives, homes and businesses. Hurricanes develop from thunderstorms, fueled by warm, moist air as they cross sub-tropical waters. Warm air rises into the storm. "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Well, we're about to get punched in the face." Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn, ahead of Hurricane Irma (2017) A mound of water piles up below the eye which is unleashed as the storm reaches land. These storm surges can cause more damage than flooding than the winds.