Energy Minister Michael Fallon appears to have contradicted his own public claims that fracking would not ruin the countryside after apparently joking the controversial drilling process could cause houses' walls to shake.
Energy company Cuadrilla has confirmed that it has started exploratory oil drilling in West Sussex as anti-fracking protests at the site entered a ninth day.
A Cuadrilla spokesman said: "We started test drilling at 11.15am, and we will do a 3,000ft vertical well. We will be there for two to three months."
The project has been subject to days of delays because of high-profile protests designed to halt delivery of trucks and equipment to the plant.
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.