March 13, 2023: 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).
Category Archives: Analysis
Special Report: ‘Frontline Formosa – Taiwan In Peril’
The Economist – Special Reports (March 11, 2023)
Taiwan is a vital island that is under serious threat

Taiwan’s fate will, ultimately, be decided by the battle-readiness of its people
- The past: How Taiwan is shaped by its history and identity
- The economy: It is time to divert Taiwan’s trade and investment from China
- Semiconductors: Taiwan’s dominance of the chip industry makes it more important
- The home front: The battle with China is psychological as much as physical
- Defence: Taiwan needs a new defence strategy to deal with China
- Politics: Taiwanese politics faces a crucial election in early 2024
- What Taiwan needs: Taiwan desperately needs support from the world
Opinion: Curing Obesity, Ron DeSantis’ Foreign Policy, Entrepreneur Hype
March 6, 2023: A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how to cure obesity, Ron DeSantis’s foreign policy doctrine (10:53) and why hype can help and hinder entrepreneurs (17:00).
American Economy: The $2 Trillion Green Stimulus
The Economist (March 2, 2023) – America is spending trillions of dollars in an effort to make the country stronger, greener and richer. These are the three key things you need to know about the plan and its chances of success.
Video timeline: 00:00 – A new green America 00:30 – Democrats are being ambitious 01:14 – Manufacturing will move to America 01:53 – Planning could be a stumbling block
To read more about Biden’s plans to remake America’s economy: https://econ.st/3IEGNiP
Preview: Foreign Affairs Magazine – March 2023

Foreign Affairs – March/April 2023 issue:
What Russia Got Wrong
Can Moscow Learn From Its Failures in Ukraine?
Pakistan’s Twin Crises
The Dangerous Convergence of a Collapsing Economy and Surging Terrorism
Israel’s Dangerous Shadow War With Iran
Why the Risk of Escalation Is Growing
Opinion: How Ukraine War Is Won, New Biden Border Policy, Nigeria Scorpions
February 27, 2023: A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how to win the war in Ukraine, Joe Biden’s sensible new border policies (11:15) and Nigeria’s scorpion trade (15:30).
Putin’s Hidden War: The Russians Fighting Back
The Economist (February 23, 2023): The invasion of Ukraine left Russians with a stark choice: carry on as normal or make a stand against the war. But speaking out in Russia carries huge risks. How is the opposition managing to resist the regime – and at what personal cost?
Video timeline: 00:00 – One year on 01:37 – The first wave of protests 05:43 – Crackdown on dissent 10:04 – Individual acts of rebellion 13:51 – Partial mobilisation 16:20 – Russia’s mass exodus 23:06 – The future of Russian rebellion
Opinion: Inflation Stays High, Obi Remakes Nigeria, Male Contraception Pills
February 20, 2023: A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, why inflation will be hard to bring down, Peter Obi’s plans to transform Nigeria (9:55) and a promising step towards a male contraceptive pill (15:20).
Opinion: Searching With Chatbots, Adani & India’s Capitalism, Lazy In France
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).
Fashion: The High Cost Of Handmade Bespoke Shoes
Insider Business (February 4, 2023) – Handmade bespoke dress shoes take months to make. Shoemakers transform rough measurements of a customer’s feet into a one-of-a-kind shoe. One pair can cost over £5,000.
London has been a hub for shoemaking for centuries, and while the industry has shrunk over time, an increase in demand from Japan and the US has helped to reignite interest in this craft. So, why would someone buy bespoke dress shoes? And what makes them so expensive?