Editor’s picks: October 17th 2019

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/10/17/donald-trumps-betrayal-of-the-kurds-is-a-blow-to-americas-credibility" target="_blank">betrayal of the Kurds</a> is a blow to America’s credibility. (09:40) The proposed <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/10/17/any-deal-struck-between-britain-and-the-eu-should-be-put-to-voters" target="_blank">Brexit</a> agreement is different to anything advertised during the referendum. (14:40) And the <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/10/19/japans-emperor-is-a-prisoner-in-his-own-palaces" target="_blank">Japanese royal family</a> has little room to make itself more relevant. Zanny Minton Beddoes hosts</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>