Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

When West Germany and East Germany became just Germany in 1990, many were worried.

Was the unified state too big for Europe?

We take a look at how its role has shifted over three decades, within Europe and in an even more turbulent wider world.

And a century ago, a curious little man

appeared in the work of a little-known author

named Agatha Christie.

We ask why Hercul Poirot,

with his distinctive mustache

and crime-solving Little Grés-Elles,

remains so popular in print and on screen.

First up, though,

it's approaching 10 years since the Civil War in Syria began.

The signs of battle are all around,

and this in the middle of a residential area, which both sides agreed

they'd stay out of.

With help from Iran and Russia, and by bombing and gassing his own people, Bashar al-Assad,

the country's dictator, had all but one. But Mr. Assad's hopes of rebuilding the country's devastated economy

are far from being realized. The currency is collapsing. America is continuing its sanctions.

A financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon is adding to the pain, and COVID-19 is hitting the country

hard. While support for Mr. Assad both abroad and within his own ranks is weakening, it seems

...