The Economist.

Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist.

I'm Jason Palmer.

And I'm Rosie Bloor.

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

Joe Biden was cautious about the role of cryptocurrencies. Donald Trump is not. He wants to

integrate crypto into the financial system. Our correspondent asks how this will affect America's

economy.

And Maro Morandi ran away from home for the first time when he was nine years old.

Eventually he did it for good, living alone on an Italian island for decades.

Our obituries editor remembers him.

But first... In Syria, the fall of Bashar al-Assad has brought about all kinds of change.

My life turned from establishing my life in London to be established my life in Damascus.

Last week, we spoke with people who had fled the regime, but who are now moving back to the country.

You said Masief is the center of the world?

Yes.

The center of the world.

Yes.

It's true.

But there's far more going on than exiles pouring back in.

Foreign products are, too, from Lebanese milk powder to snickers and pringles.

And foreign powers see a reshuffling of the deck as well, perhaps one more than any other.

...