In a pattern that may become increasingly familiar, the world has received a jolt in the shape of a tweet from Donald Trump.
\u201cThe United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability,\u201d the President-Elect tweeted, \u201cuntil such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.\u201d
Coupled with Vladimir Putin\u2019s comments the same day that Russia must \u201cstrengthen the military potential\u201d of its nuclear arsenal, it adds to the worry that we may not look back on 2016 as a year of convulsions \u2013 in fact, we may not look back on it at all.
But \u2013 strange as it may seem when the words \u201cTrump\u201d and \u201cnuclear weapons\u201d appear so closely together in a news story \u2013 on this occasion, the worries are somewhat overstated.
Both the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia are suffering from outdated equipment, guidance systems and other maintenance issues. Overhauling those problems makes an accidental exchange of nuclear fire less likely and a second strike less likely, too.
The way that Trump described the launch, civil servants believe, is part and parcel of how generals talk about their spending requests in order to expedite favourable decisions from civilian governments. That speaks to one of the other worries about Trump: that he is, for all his bombast, a man with a tendency to take on the opinions of the last person he spoke to and one desperately concerned with saving face and being taken seriously. That he is still tweeting about Hillary Clinton\u2019s popular vote lead and the celebrity entertainers who are giving his inauguration a wide berth speaks to his fragility.
But there\u2019s a risk that the nuclear issue is obscuring a bigger worry about Trump\u2019s presidency: that of increased hostility towards China. The Sino-US relations have not been in great shape for years but Trump\u2019s actions as president-elect have placed the relationship under greater pressure.
The subject of worry and irritation in Beijing today: the appointment of Peter Navarro to head the new White House National Trade Council. Navarro is the China hawk\u2019s China hawk \u2013 the Guardian has collected some of his strongest anti-China remarks \u2013 and it has analysts nervous that Trump\u2019s presidency will see a trade war erupt between the United States and China.
Although both countries would suffer damage, it is the US that has more to lose than China. That brings you back to the problem with Trump \u2013 that is he is both impressionable and hates to be seen as a loser. What he does if he starts a fight he can\u2019t finish with the world\u2019s other superpower is likely to be the question that dominates all others in 2017.
Halfway through another season. Football, like the academic year and the school year, does not stick to the normal calendar, but any road up, here goes the report on the season, so far.
Surprise of the Season This time last year it was Leicester City surprising us all. This time, it is Leicester City \u2013 surprising us all. By not playing as stunningly as they did. But they could still surprise us all. Well, we are easily surprised.
Team of the Season The four at the top of the Prem are separated by just a few points. No one looks like drawing ahead. But I think Chelsea,
who were dreadful last season, might do it. They have such a strong spine, with Costa, Hazard and Luiz, all of them at last coming into form.
Worldwide, All-Star, Amazing, Galactic Team of the Season Carlisle United, of course. They\u2019ve lost only one league game all season. They could well rise to glory come May, leaping out of League Two.
Young Players of the Season There seemed to be so many, early doors, about to thrill us all, with massive reputations and price tags, such as Paul Pogba, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, but they\u2019ve all done little, moving backwards if anything, while poor old Ross Barkley has practically disappeared. What is the reason? Peaked
too early? Weren\u2019t as good as we thought?
Jack Wilshere A young player who did seem to have peaked, thanks partly to always being injured. He got shunted out on loan from Arsenal to Bournemouth \u2013 yet he has played regularly and well for them. Could it be that it was the training and environment at Arsenal that somehow exacerbated his injuries?
Manager of the Season When Mourinho arrived at the beginning of the season at Man United, I told everyone within earshot, which means my four granddaughters and the tortoise, that you mark my words, he\u2019ll be gone by Xmas. I\u2019m now predicting gone by Easter. Are you listening, Tortee? Oh, she\u2019s asleep.
Form is temporary, class is for ever . i s one of football\u2019s oldest clich\u00e9s. I now think it\u2019s bollocks. Look at Jamie Vardy, considered for most of his career to have little class, and then came a miraculous season. Now he appears to be coming back. Football, like life, is a matter of ups and downs. I got that from a Christmas cracker.
Hurrah for England We\u2019re not so rubbish at football after all. The 30 names on the shortlist for this year\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or did include one Englishman. Hence dancing in the streets of Leicester. Yes, Wee Jamie was the sole Inglander who made it.
Football Expert of Year Alan Shearer, who else? Usually he gives us his pearls on TV but he graced the radio airwaves when talking to Gary Richardson on the Radio 4 Today programme. Asked about Gareth Southgate getting the England job, Shearer thought and then said: \u201cAt this moment in time, we are where we are.\u201d
Commentators\u2019 Clich\u00e9s
There\u2019s a new one this season which they\u2019re all trying to work in. \u201cOh, that was a lovely pick-out.\u201d \u201cPick-out\u201d just means \u201cpass\u201d.
Well Done, Tottingham
Ahead of the game as ever, world leaders in the field. It has been reported that Spurs\u2019 most expensive season ticket in their new stadium will cost \u00a318,000. A bargain. Where else will a fan find such joy for such a small amount of money?
Jok e Which reminds me of an old seaside postcard, one of the vintage saucy ones that local \u201cwatch committees\u201d used to ban. It shows a tout outside Wembley Stadium selling tickets. \u201c\u00a310 for a ticket?\u201d exclaims a fan. \u201cI could get a woman for that!\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d replies the tout, \u201cbut not 45 minutes each way and a brass band at half-time.\u201d Note the two period references. Touts have all but disappeared and so have the brass bands who\u2019d march round the pitch at half-time.
Arsena l also done good They have been using performance-enhancing undergarments. What cheaters. It\u2019s to do
with some revolutionary tight, clingy Lycra underpants and vest. The sleeves tend to hang down, covering the arms, which means when the team has elected to play in short sleeves, as decreed by the captain of the day, those using artificial stimulants can be seen to have these dodgy enhancers underneath. There have been protests from diehard Gooners about this break with tradition. Well, they don\u2019t have a lot to do.
Trendy Referees Who\u2019d have thought it? That referees would ever become as cool as geography teachers. Mark Clattenburg has got a tattoo on each wrist, in honour of taking two European finals. I quite expected such outrageous behaviour from him, as he always appeared a flash git \u2013 for a referee. But Michael Oliver is a surprise. He looks about 13 but he is 31, younger than many of the players he bosses around. He has suddenly appeared with a fashionable hairstyle. Two lines shaved at the side, tramlines. He\u2019s been ridiculed on social media for having a \u201cYear Seven haircut\u201d.
Most Annoying Advertisement \u201cFirst Never Follows\u201d. This is for Adidas. But is it true? Firsts have to follow, in order to get ahead, otherwise they\u2019d have no one to get ahead of.
Haircut of the Season God, I nearly forgot. For over 20 years this has been the biggest accolade in football journalism, NS section. Alas, hmm, can\u2019t think of any. Blond highlights have faded, beards are soooo last season. So who can it be? For the first time ever, the judging committee is being forced to award it to a referee. Step forward, Michael Oliver. Now go back and do your homework or you\u2019ll never pass your GCSEs. .<\/p>\n

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