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| Hey Insiders! 🗞️ Today's issue features China sending 32 aircraft toward Taiwan, a dive into the ranking of the richest people in China, four astronauts from four different countries launched to the International Space Station, and more. ⏬ Scroll down for some Quick Hits and our Upcoming Events section. 💬 Your thoughts matter to us — don't hesitate to hit reply and share your feedback! If you find this newsletter useful, please share it with your friends and colleagues.
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| 1 | | Taiwan's defense ministry reported that China sent 32 aircraft and nine naval vessels toward Taiwan within 24 hours following the U.S. approving a $500M arms sale to Taiwan. This move comes as China intensifies its military activities around Taiwan, especially after Taiwan's vice president visited the U.S. More: - The defense ministry detected 32 aircraft from China's People's Liberation Army and nine naval vessels between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.
- Of the 32 aircraft, 20 either crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or breached Taiwan's air defense identification zone.
- Taiwan responded by deploying its own aircraft, vessels, and missile systems to counter the Chinese activities.
- The U.S. State Department approved the sale of infrared search and track systems for F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, worth $500M.
- Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang opposed the arms sale, labeling it as "gross interference" in China's internal affairs.
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| 2 | | 
What the numbers say: As of January 2023, Zhong Shanshan was the wealthiest individual in China, boasting a net worth of $69B. Following him were Ma Huateng, the man behind the tech behemoth Tencent, and Zhang Yiming, the creator of ByteDance and popular apps like TikTok and Toutiao. Meanwhile, Alibaba's founder, Ma Yun, slipped to the eighth spot on the list. Relevance: New research indicates that China, boasting the world's second-largest economy and population, is projected to experience the greatest exodus of millionaires again this year. Henley & Partners' investment migration report reveals that after losing 10,800 high-net-worth individuals in 2022, an additional 13,500 are anticipated to emigrate this year. | | | |
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| 3 | | Four astronauts from Denmark, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. launched toward the International Space Station (ISS) in a SpaceX capsule. This marks the first U.S. launch where each seat was occupied by an astronaut from a different country. More: - The astronauts are expected to reach the ISS on Sunday, replacing the current crew there since March.
- The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center and was initially delayed a day for additional data reviews of the capsule's life-support system.
- NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli serves as the mission's commander, joined by Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency, Satoshi Furukawa from Japan, and Konstantin Borisov from Russia.
- This mission is SpaceX's eighth crewed launch for NASA, while Boeing, another contractor, has yet to fly astronauts and is grounded until 2024.
- The international crew's perks include a diverse food selection, including Persian herbed stew, Danish chocolate, and Japanese mackerel.
Zoom Out: - International cooperation in space exploration is becoming increasingly important, as seen in the Artemis Accords, which aim to create a peaceful and collaborative environment on the Moon.
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| 4 | | An abducted woman from a Phoenix car dealership facilitated her own rescue on Tuesday by slipping a note to a gas station customer in Seligman, over 160 miles away. The note led to her abductor, Jacob Wilhoit, being apprehended at milepost 116 on Interstate 40. More: - The woman was reported missing by her mother earlier that day and was listed as missing/endangered.
- Wilhoit was posing as an Uber driver and abducted the woman at around 7 a.m. on Monday.
- Authorities stopped the van after the customer called 911, providing descriptions and the van's direction on Interstate 40.
- Wilhoit had multiple firearms "in plain view" in the van when he was arrested.
- He has been charged with harassment, threatening and intimidating, aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment, and kidnapping.
- The incident occurred over a span of two days, with Wilhoit spending a night at Lake Mead before being apprehended at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
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| 5 | | The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, faces an uncertain future after the presumed death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash. Prigozhin's death comes two months after he led an armed rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin, sparking speculation that he was targeted for his uprising. More: - The group helped secure a national referendum in the Central African Republic, strengthening presidential power.
- Wagner is also a key partner for Mali's army in battling armed rebels and has been contacted by the military junta in Niger.
- The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has criticized Wagner's destabilizing role in Africa.
- Africa's 54 nations form the largest voting bloc at the U.N. Russia has sought their support, especially amid its war in Ukraine.
- Prigozhin's contractors have tapped into the mineral and energy wealth of countries like Syria, Libya, and Sudan.
- Britain's Defense Ministry warned that Prigozhin's demise could have a "deeply destabilizing effect" on the Wagner Group.
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| 6 | | Approximately 2,000 items have been stolen from the British Museum, with some already being recovered, according to Chairman George Osborne. The museum's director, Hartwig Fischer, will step down, acknowledging that a 2021 investigation into the missing items was mishandled. More: - The British Museum is one of the U.K.'s most prestigious cultural institutions and has been under scrutiny since revealing that numerous treasures were "missing, stolen or damaged."
- The stolen items range from the 15th century B.C. to the 19th century A.D. and were primarily kept for academic and research purposes.
- The museum has a collection of around 8 million items, but as of 2019, only about 80,000 were on public display.
- Not all items in the museum are "properly cataloged and registered," making it easier for someone with inside knowledge to steal them.
- The museum is working closely with the police, and a "forensic job" is underway to establish what exactly is missing.
- No arrests have been made yet, although a man has been interviewed by Metropolitan Police detectives over the missing items.
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- A former U.S. diplomat says the presumed death of Wagner's chief shows Russia has "no rule of law."
- U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich has appealed against the latest extension of his pre-trial detention in Moscow on spying charges he denies.
- Thousands got together on the National Mall for the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington, saying a country that remains riven by racial inequality has yet to fulfill his dream.
- One of Ukraine's most famous fighter pilots, who played a public role in pushing Western allies to provide Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets, died in a training exercise.
- Bob Barker, best known for his decades as the host of "The Price is Right" and imploring viewers to have their pets spayed or neutered, died at age 99.
- Start your Babbel journey today and set the stage for an autumn filled with discovery, connection, and unforgettable memories. Get 55% off when you join.*
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