The Politico website has reported that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry is expected to announce his resignation in November. The story does not cite a reason for Mr Perry’s departure, although it may in some way be related to the recent replacement of his friend and fellow Texas A&M alumni Khalid al-Falih as energy minister of Saudi Arabia, or perhaps the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump (though there is currently no evidence for this). It may also simply be a case of Mr Perry considering the time ripe, at the age of 69, to retire from politics. His deputy, Dan Brouillette, is expected to become the new energy secretary.