Hello and welcome to the intelligence from the economist.

In New York, I'm John Fassman.

And in London, I'm Jason Palmer.

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

Four years ago, Google dropped its bid for a Pentagon contract after thousands of employees

objected.

But that was before Russian invaded Ukraine.

From today's battlefield, softwareist King and Silicon Valley wants back in.

And this month marks 80 years since the release of Bambi, a pioneering bit of Disney animation.

What people seem to remember most from the film is a particularly harrowing scene that it

would appear is a collective delusion.

Just up though.

Today marks one year since the Taliban toppled the American-backed government and seized

control of Afghanistan.

It was a speedy, almost bloodless victory that surprised many.

In the early days of the transition, the world was gripped by news coming out of Kabul.

There were images of crowds swarming the airport desperate to flee.

And stories circulated of Afghans selling their children to make ends meet.

This month, Afghanistan has been in headlines again.

After the leader of Al-Qaeda, Iman al-Zawakhri, was killed by an American drone strike.

But in recent months, the country has largely been overlooked by the world.

As the spotlight has shifted to the war in Ukraine in the prospect of a global recession.

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