Editor’s picks: December 5th 2019

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, an <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/12/05/britains-nightmare-before-christmas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">electoral nightmare</a> before Christmas for Britain. (10:10) <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2019/12/07/in-the-un-china-uses-threats-and-cajolery-to-promote-its-worldview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">China’s behind-the-scenes battle</a> for influence in the United Nations. (18:10) And, how to make a small <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/12/07/the-first-computer-chip-with-a-trillion-transistors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supercomputer</a> with a really big chip</p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/radiooffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/radiooffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>