Insider Today: Warlord’s secret calendar

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July 8, 2023

Hello, Insiders! 🚨 Be careful with your weekend emoji usage: A judge in Canada just ruled that the 👍 emoji can represent a legally binding contract agreement.

Today we’re hopping around the world:

What it’s like to run a “Barbie-ish” Airbnb in Arizona.
Go behind-the-scenes of Royal Caribbean’s swanky, new crew member lounge.
Three passengers’ extreme actions after missing a flight in Turkey.

But first: Let’s dive into a Russian warlord’s secret calendar.

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THE BIG STORY

Rebel schedule

Alexey Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

A leaked calendar of the Wagner Group's leader reveals how close he was to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Just two weeks ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin led the most direct challenge to Putin’s 23-year rule. And now, a new, exclusive Insider analysis of Prigozhin’s calendar for the past decade revealed the direct access he had with Putin’s inner circle.

The calendar painted a pretty intimate portrait of Prigozhin’s life. It included scheduled times to take dietary supplements, appointments with his personal physician, and more.

But the events that stood out during this 10-year period are his frequent meetings with key members of Putin’s inner crew:

There are 75 entries for Ruslan Tsalikov, who has served as a deputy minister of defense since 2012.
The chief of staff for Putin’s executive office had 73 scheduled appointments with Prigozhin.
One of Putin’s former bodyguards had 33 entries that denoted meetings or calls with Prigozhin.
Another 36 appointments simply read “НГША,” which stands for “chief of the general staff.” This is almost certainly General Valery Gerasimov, who plotted Russia’s initial 2014 invasion of Ukraine and now oversees the expanded war.

And the list goes on. Our analysis suggests that, if Putin intends to clean ranks of potential Wagner loyalists, he has his work cut out for him.

READ ON

AROUND THE WORLD IN 6 STORIES

American in Paris, Michelin star, & more

Antoine Antoniol/Getty Images

Paris — The most surprising things about living as an American in Paris. Amanda Rollins has lived in Paris for the past five years. And she revealed eight surprising things she learned, including how its healthcare system works and how gym culture isn’t very prominent.
Istanbul — A father and his two sons reportedly forced their way onto the boarding bridge after missing their flight. A video of the alleged incident even shows one of them dangling from the bridge, jumping off, then running to the plane.
Las Vegas — Swapping politics for marketing to get work-life balance. A millennial living in Las Vegas details what it’s like working remotely for a French company and how she enjoys its policies on travel, education, and time off. As a result of the career switch, she says, her mental health has never been better.
Singapore — What it’s like losing a Michelin star. Chan Hong Meng of Hawker Chan is one of Asia’s most iconic chefs, catapulting into fame after his tiny Singapore stall received a Michelin star. But losing the distinction one year later motivated his culinary passions, he said.
Crandon, Wisconsin — Passengers were left trapped upside down on rollercoaster for nearly four hours. Eight passengers were stuck upside down on a ride at a county fair due to a mechanical failure. The rescue crew arrived within 15 minutes of the incident, but relief was delayed for hours due to the ride’s height and need for special equipment.
Tempe, Arizona — “I run a ‘Barbie-ish’ Airbnb.” The “desert dream house” boasts unique pink decor, a heated pool, and other amenities. After revamping the property to be highly Instagrammable, the listing was launched in March 2021 and was quickly booked for the whole summer.

SHOP SMARTER

Prime Day, Trader Joe's, & more

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Amazon Prime Day kicks off Tuesday. Our team has the 25 best early Prime Day deals to shop now, from Airpods to air purifiers.
Trader Joe’s slang terms. Seven former and current employees describe the meaning behind sayings like opportunity buys, captain’s log, and gangway factor.
Dollar General versus Dollar Tree versus Family Dollar. We reviewed the three main dollar store chains. Dollar General was chaotic. Meanwhile, Family Dollar was the tidiest but pretty pricey.
The three ways to shop at Costco without a membership. It’s cracking down on sharing cards, but non-members can still shop online or as a guest.

LAST LOOK

Crew members only

Royal Caribbean International

Check out the lounge area for crew members on Royal Caribbean’s upcoming megaship. The “neighborhood” features a live cooking station, virtual reality games, pub, and more.

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