Editor's Picks from The Economist

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. To win at chessboxing, participants much either get a checkmate on the board or a knockout in the ring. This improbable sport was first organised by a performance artist in 2003 and its popularity has been rising ever since.Listen 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 many companies, excitement over the promise of generative artificial intelligence has turned into frustration over a lack of results. But the tech giants continue to spend big and consumers are still enthusiastic.Listen 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. Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum has been targeting the country’s murderous gangs, but Trump and MAGA Republicans are eager to launch their own attacks across the border. To keep America at bay, her efforts must yield results.Listen 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. To Lam, the general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party, is trying to court both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to protect his country’s economic interests. Can he maintain good relations with geopolitical rivals amidst a trade war?Listen 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. The history of fatherhood is littered with poor ideas, inequity, and outright cruelty. A new book that charts this fraught history argues that cultural progress means that there's never been a better time to be a dad than now.Listen 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 Congress considers changing the tax rate on America's top earners, it raises an important question. What is the best way to tax the rich? The academics, as it turns out, are just as confused as the politicians.Listen 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. JD Vance's accusations about Europe's infringements on freedom of speech are deeply hypocritical. They also aren't entirely unfounded.Listen 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. Cryptocurrency was once heralded as an utopian answer to authoritarianism, expropriation, and inflation. Now it has become both a facilitator of financial crime and has developed a grubby relationship with the executive branch of America’s government.Listen 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.

Few infrastructure projects are riddled with more potholes than those involving IT overhauls. What can be done about it?Listen 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.