2025-12-08
24 分钟The Economist.
Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist.
I'm Rosie Bior.
Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.
In Latin America, a growing number of women are being trafficked to serve the rising demand for sex tourism.
Our correspondent visited Colombia to meet some of those affected.
And the California Gold Rush brought a massive influx of prospectors to the American West.
Now the price of gold is rising again, our correspondent found herself doing her own bit of panning.
But first, a year ago today, Syria's longtime despot Bashar al-Assad was deposed.
After decades of his family's iron rule, euphoria swept through the country.
Today in Damascus, billboards plaster the city of the final battle for liberation.
Syrians have traveled to the capital from every corner of the country to toast the new beginnings.
Internationally, Syria's new leader Ahmad al-Shara has moved with remarkable speed to end decades of diplomatic isolation.
He now seems to be a pal of Donald Trump's.
He comes from a very tough place, and he's a tough guy.
I liked him, I get along with him, the president, the new president of Syria.
Many of the tough sanctions that were devastating Syria have been lifted and more are expected to go.
Yet despite the new dawn, it's not all sunshine at home.
Assad is gone, but a year on, Syria is facing a gamut of new problems.
One year after the fall of Assad, things have changed dramatically for Ahmad al-Shara and Syria.