Donald Trump gambled with the world's security with his war on Iran and has helped drag Britain into an energy crisis of his own making. He boasted the campaign would be over in weeks. More than seven months later, fuel supplies remain fragile, diesel has hit a record £2 a litre, and governments are discussing emergency reserves.
Pressure on allies
Having unleashed the crisis, Trump now expects Europe to rescue him from the consequences. His administration is pressuring allies to release strategic diesel stocks while threatening to restrict American exports.
Britain, heavily dependent on imported diesel and US supplies, is dangerously exposed. This is the arrogance and incompetence of a man unqualified to lead the free world.
Impact on families
He promised speed and victory. Instead, families face dearer fuel, transport, food and potentially mortgages. Trump made this mess. The rest of the world should not have to keep paying for his failures.
'Sham contracts' in football
Once again, the beautiful game has turned ugly. Manchester City insist they are innocent and are appealing against a ruling that they breached Premier League financial rules over almost a decade.
At the heart of the case is the allegation that the club used sponsorship deals and "sham contracts" to disguise more than £830million in secret funding, including money said to have come from the Abu Dhabi government rather than commercial partners.
Those findings cut to the heart of sporting fairness. Fans must believe success is earned on the pitch, not tilted by hidden financial advantages behind the scenes. City are entitled to challenge the verdict, and their appeal must be heard properly. But the wider issue cannot be ducked. Football depends on trust, transparency and rules that apply equally to everyone.
'Last one standing'
There is something wonderfully British about Ritchie Wood holding out as bulldozers prepare to make way for a £5billion Universal theme park. The project will bring jobs, tourists and prosperity to Bedfordshire. But before the Minions arrive, Universal should make sure its last reluctant neighbour is not left feeling completely despicable.
