Editor’s Picks: February 13th 2023

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. For decades it made sense to slowly pay down a mortgage over time, but that is no longer the case. Rising interest rates mean the smart thing to do is pay off your mortgage early. Listen to what matters most, ... Show More

Narendra Modi may well be the most popular politician on the planet. India’s prime minister is eyeing a third term atop the world’s biggest democracy.  A tea-seller’s son, Mr Modi began life an outsider. The man behind the political phenomenon remains hard to fathom. India has be ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, as the death toll climbs in Israel’s war on Gaza, we argue that the country looks deeply vulnerable. Plus, we consider Britain as an unexpected beacon of immigration. And finally ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how chatbots will influence the lucrative business of internet search, the parable of Adani (11:25) and why France is arguing about work, and the right to be lazy (19:50).  Pleas ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Disney’s second century, Turkey’s looming dictatorship (10:25) and how young people spend their money (17:35).  Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digita ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Putin’s next move, the pandemic in India (10:20) and the rise of the robot critic (18:35).  Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how to talk to Mr Putin, the rise of performative work (9:45) and the lingering effects of covid-19 on elite footballers (15:00)  Please subscribe to The Economist for full acces ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how to avoid war over Taiwan, the mystery of 250,000 dead Britons (9:50) and the small consolations of office irritations (18:20).  Please subscribe to The Economist for full acc ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: Ant group and fintech come of age, economic disparities after covid-19 (09:30) the US election in miniature (17:00).   Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Israel: the survivor nation at 75, is Sir Keir Starmer ready to govern Britain? (10:25) And why ChatGPT raises questions about how humans acquire language (19:05).  Please subscr ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, why Emmanuel Macron’s fate matters beyond France, war crimes in Ukraine (11:05) and we explore the new headset wars between tech firms (16:05).  Please subscribe to The Economist ... Show More

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, are free markets history? Also, why Africans are losing faith in democracy (10:25) and we investigate whether bitcoin originally leaked from an American spy lab. (17:25)  Sign up ... Show More