25 talking points for better conversation at cocktails from news of the past week.

1. Xi Jinping plans to skip the G20 summit while China-India tensions mount.

2. Joe Biden to visit Vietnam after G20 summit in India.

3. Another coup in Africa: Since 1990, two-thirds of coups in Africa have been in ex-French colonies.

4. Japan seeks a record ¥7.7 trillion defense budget.

5. The US Space Force plans to expand its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region with a new subordinate command in Japan.

6. Grant Shapps has been appointed UK Defence Secretary. For Shapps — this is his fifth Cabinet post in just one year.

7. Sean Penn captures the first Russian bombs dropped on Ukraine in new documentary 'Superpower.'

8. UAE launches an Arabic large language model in the Gulf push into generative AI.

9. Election 2024: Francis Suarez is the first GOP candidate to suspend his campaign.

10. Foxconn's Terry Gou announces bid for Taiwan's presidency.

11. Joe Biden to visit Vietnam after G20 summit in India.

12. A worldwide lithium shortage could come as soon as 2025.

13. Toyota to build over 10m vehicles for the first time this year.

14. X will again allow political advertising after it was suspended in 2019.

15. 18%: The market vacancy percentage of US class A office space.

16. Revino is launching a new system to reuse wine bottles.

17. Barstool Sports reportedly lays off nearly 25% of staff.

18. Apple's iPhone 15 event will be held on September 12.

19. Gazprom sends the first-ever shipment of Baltic LNG to China via the Arctic.

20. Karlie Kloss wants to buy i-D magazine from Vice Media.

21. Happening now: The Venice International Film Festival.

22. Simone Biles won a record eighth US all-around title and became the oldest gymnast to win the championship.

23. Canada's men's national team head coach John Herdman steps down to take the Toronto FC job.

24. Megan Rapinoe to play her final game for USA on September 24.

25. Lewis Hamilton is extending a deal with Mercedes F1 until 2025.

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc