Brexit ‘blackmail’ and Trump’s wall tested

Hello. Here’s your morning briefing:

The UK wants to begin trade talks as soon as possible, but the EU insists these can happen only once “sufficient progress” has been made on the arrangements for withdrawal. Mr Fox, currently in Japan with Prime Minister Theresa May, says businesses are becoming impatient for progress.

No official figure has been given for the divorce fee. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker suggests it will be about 60bn euros (£55bn), while unconfirmed reports have put it as high as 100bn euros (£92bn).

Building a wall along the US-Mexico border was the most famous of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign promises, but the project has so far been dogged by doubts over funding. But might there be some movement? It’s been announced that four companies will get $500,000 (£387,000) each to build prototypes 30ft (9m) long and 30ft high. They’ll be tested for resistance to tampering, penetration with small hand tools, and (remember, Mr Trump said the wall would be “beautiful”) their “aesthetics”.

The Royal Air Force is now accepting women in its ground-fighting force, making it the first branch of the armed services to open up all roles to male and female recruits. The move follows former Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to lift the ban on women serving in close combat roles. It will be another year before women can apply to enter army infantry units and the Royal Marines.

By Chris Mason, political correspondent

Glance into the graveyard of political failure, and you see the tombstones of Veritas, Libertas, The Jury Team, No2EU and Your Party. The one example still alive: UKIP. But even it only ever managed to win one seat at a general election. It won’t stop the chatter, the never-ending asking of the question: “What next?”

The state of Brexit talks dominates several front pages. The Times reports that Brussels is demanding billions of pounds from the UK after it leaves the European Union for aid to Africa, loans to Ukraine and environmental projects across Europe, including bridges for wildlife. The Guardian focuses on remarks by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, denouncing the UK’s approach as unrealistic. The Daily Express’s headline is: “You can’t bully us, Mr Barnier.” Elsewhere, the i says Theresa May faces a backlash from senior Conservative MPs after an increase in student loan interest rates to 6.1%. And the Daily Mail claims one in three nurseries could shut in a year because of funding issues with the government’s new scheme offering 30 hours of free care to most children aged three and four.

Flexitime Many workers penalised over requests, claims TUC

Flight delays Inquiry into plane passengers held in “deplorable” conditions

Vacuum policy EU bans sale of loud and inefficient floor cleaners from today

Today Theresa May finishes her three-day visit to Japan, with discussions expected on Brexit, security, defence ties and trade and investment.

19:45 World Cup qualifying matches take place, including England away to Malta, Northern Ireland away to San Marino and Scotland away to Lithuania.

1939 Germany’s forces invade Poland and its planes bomb cities including the capital, Warsaw.