The Taliban advance, China targets big data: Weekend Reads

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The Taliban's lightning advance in Afghanistan is raising alarms from Russia to China, as U.S. President Joe Biden's move to withdraw troops disrupts a balance of power in South Asia. China's crackdown against Didi Global this week illustrates how big data is taking center stage as a key battleground in the contest with the U.S., with implications that could reshape the global economy. In Haiti, the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, reportedly by a Colombian-led hit squad, deepened the political chaos in the Caribbean island nation that's been in the grip of gang violence, kidnappings, protests and the coronavirus pandemic. Dig deeper into these and other topics in this edition of Weekend Reads.

A U.S. Chinook helicopter lands near Maidan Shar, the capital of Wardak province. Photographer: Thomas Watkins/Getty Images Click here for this week's most compelling political images and tell us how we're doing or what we're missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.

Taliban Resurgence Raises Terrorism Fears From Moscow to Beijing While Biden insists the U.S. military has achieved its goals in Afghanistan and will leave by Aug. 31, the battle will go on for the country's people and in surrounding nations. Eltaf Najafizada, Faseeh Mangi and Sudhi Ranjan Sen explain why Russia and China are worried. China's Didi Crackdown Is All About Controlling Big Data The U.S. is lobbying other nations to stop China from obtaining technology like advanced computer chips while Beijing is pursuing a national project to develop them. Stringent security controls risk further disrupting supply chains, balkanizing financial markets and forcing countries to pick sides. When Will China Rule the World? Maybe Never The Communist Party wants the world to see China's continued rise as inevitable. But as Eric Zhu and Tom Orlik explain, in reality, it's anything but. U.S. Frets That Time Is Running Out to Revive Iran Nuclear Deal Biden's team is starting to face up to the reality the 2015 Iranian nuclear accord may soon be beyond saving, with six rounds of talks in Vienna and no sign a seventh might happen. Nick Wadhams outlines how the stalemate is compounded by Iran's technological advances that help it move toward the production of a nuclear bomb. Haiti Asks U.S. for Troops After President's Assassination  Haiti has requested U.S. troops to help stabilize the poorest country in the Americas. Jim Wyss reports that officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security will travel to Port-au-Prince. Moise made the declaration on Feb. 7 as the opposition alleged he was using heavy-handed tactics to cling to office. Read here our QuickTake on how the crisis unfolded. England Bids to End 55 Years of Hurt as Johnson Gambles on Covid An England win in the European soccer championship game on Sunday would be a moment of national celebration and a major distraction from spiralling Covid-19 cases. Adam Blenford, Khadija Kothia and Lizzy Burden explain how British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to capitalize on it. England fans celebrate in London after victory over Denmark in the semi-final game on Wednesday.  Photographer: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Europe India Supercharged Its Economy 30 Years Ago. Covid Unraveled It India's liberalization of its Soviet-style economy 30 years ago eventually pulled about 300 million out of poverty, fueling one of the biggest wealth creations in history. But as Vrishti Beniwal, Eric Martin, Dhwani Pandya and Shruti Srivastava report, then came the world's fastest Covid-19 surge that unwound years of progress in months. Trump Country Rejects Vaccines as Delta Menace Grows Two Americas have emerged from a growing vaccination gap: In states that Biden won in the last election, most adults are vaccinated and daily life is returning to normal. In other areas, as Josh Wingrove reports, it is a whole different story. Politics Seep Into Oil as Diverging Goals Test Saudi-UAE Ties Like many relationships, the one between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had long rested on two simple principles for when disputes arose: Deal with them behind closed doors or stay quiet. Sylvia Westall and Fiona MacDonald write that after the neighbors' public spat over future OPEC+ oil output, that's now looking hopelessly old-fashioned. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. Source: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Rich Yank Money Out of Peru and Brace for Left-Wing Government Wealthy Peruvians are't waiting for the authorities officially to declare leftist outsider Pedro Castillo the winner of last month's presidential election. They're pulling their money out of local accounts and shipping it overseas, María Cervantes and Maria Elena Vizcaino write. And finally … As Ethiopia begins diverting 13.5 billion cubic meters of water from the Blue Nile river to its controversial new mega-dam, residents of Sudan to the south fear a repetition of last year's devastating drought. Simon Marks and Mohammed Alamin report on the human cost of the dispute. The Blue Nile river passes through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Photographer: Eduardo Soteras/Getty Images

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