A “Brzezinski-style” approach to foreign policy emphasises the long-term ideological weakening of authoritarian regimes through support for dissident movements, human rights, and the use of soft power and alliances. A “Kissinger-style” approach emphasises strategic pragmatism and maintaining a balance of power, often engaging with authoritarian governments to preserve geopolitical stability, even if this involves compromising on democratic values.

In 1973, the US and Saudi Arabia agreed that oil exports would be priced exclusively in US dollars. In return, the US provided military support and protection to Saudi Arabia. This was known as the petrodollar agreement.

Alice Davis is a single mother living with her 16 year-old daughter Samantha in Southampton. Alice has been a police detective for almost thirty years, and loves her job. This morning, Samantha came home, crying and covered in blood. She admits to Alice that she became angry at her boyfriend (Derek) after discovering he was cheating, and stabbed him repeatedly, resulting in his death. Samantha says the body is in Derek’s garage and she wants Alice’s help disposing of it, and cleaning the scene, before his parents return from Prague tomorrow.

In China, young workers are protesting the 996 culture (working 9am-9pm, 6 days a week) by embracing a philosophy of idleness known as “touching fish”, taking advantage of when management’s focus is away from supervising their employees in order to work the least while not getting caught. Examples include filling up a thermos with whisky, getting up whenever another employee gets up, drinking liters of water to prompt lots of trips to the toilet on work time and, once there, spending time on social media or playing games on your phone. (The term takes after a Chinese proverb that says, 'muddy waters make it easy to catch fish' which means the more convoluted a situation, the easier it is for opportunistic behaviour.)