In Syria’s trouble: an embattled despot digs in

Unexpected defeats at rebels’ hands, a cratered economy, a hungry citizenry and a runaway covid-19 epidemic: <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/09/26/victory-for-bashar-al-assad-has-meant-more-suffering-for-his-people?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">can anything unseat</a> Bashar al-Assad? When Germany reunified, many worried it would upset the balance of Europe; 30 years on and if anything the country <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/10/03/thirty-years-after-reunification-germany-is-shouldering-more-responsibility?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">must wield more</a> of its power. And celebrating <a href="https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/09/26/hercule-poirot-turns-100?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the centenary</a> of Agatha Christie’s most beloved detective, Hercule Poirot. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>