Editor's Picks from The Economist

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Chinese companies have dominated global solar-panel production. But this manufacturing triumph has inadvertently pushed the country's own clean-energy sector to the brink.Topics covered:Solar energyRenewable technologyEnergy marketsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. China once relied on its rich Asian neighbours for high-tech components, but it now competes across the entire supply chain. Taiwan, South Korea and Japan must rethink their reliance on export-driven growth. Topics covered:Asian economiesManufacturingChipmakingListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. As cheap, deadly technology proliferates, world leaders must realise that wars of choice are becoming increasingly foolish. Topics covered:Defence technologyArtificial intelligenceLaws of warListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Disney previously turned its flagship film franchise into TV fodder, but Star Wars is now returning to cinemas. Much is riding on how it fares. Topics covered:Star WarsDisneyThe Mandalorian and GroguListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Since the pandemic, the types of parents choosing to home-school their children are changing, and so are their reasons for doing so.Topics covered:EducationParentingCovid-19 pandemicListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Forty years ago, English football was a laughing-stock. Now it is a global powerhouse. Britain’s next prime minister could learn a thing or two from the Premier League. Topics covered:Premier LeagueBritain’s politicsSir Keir StarmerListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. America’s economy has again shown up the rest of the world. But it could have done better.Topics covered:America’s economyMAGAnomicsTariffsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. For years “Neanderthal” served as shorthand for ineptitude. Nobody would have considered them sophisticated enough to perform surgery. A battered tooth from a cave in southern Siberia is forcing a rethink.Topics covered:NeanderthalsArchaeologyEvolutionary biologyListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Chinese officials have ignored Europe's pleas to tackle trade imbalances. European leaders are preparing tougher trade measures against China. A trade war is becoming harder to avoid.Topics covered:ChinaEuropean UnionTradeListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.