SpaceX HQ, Senator Menendez Trial, and Floppy Disks

Adam Rogers
July 17, 2024

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Elon Musk announced that he will move the headquarters of SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) from California to Texas.

The decision follows California Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of a law that bars school districts from notifying parents of a child’s gender identification change. Musk criticized the law, saying it attacks families and companies, prompting him to relocate SpaceX to Starbase, Texas, and X to Austin.
Musk mentioned the law as the "final straw," having previously warned Governor Newsom that such laws would drive families and companies away from California. Musk has also recently endorsed former President Donald Trump and plans to financially support a pro-Trump super PAC. Trump is expected to reverse transgender rights if re-elected.
In 2021, Musk relocated Tesla’s headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin, Texas, while maintaining an engineering office in Palo Alto.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty on all 16 criminal counts, including bribery, in a Manhattan federal court.

Senior Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, have called for Menendez to resign. Menendez has been a Senator since 2006 and previously avoided conviction in a 2017 trial due to a deadlocked jury.
Jurors deliberated for over 12 hours before reaching their verdict after a nine-week trial. Menendez pleaded not guilty to charges, including acting as an agent for Egypt, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and extortion. He remained defiant after the verdict, saying he would appeal but didn’t address his resignation. Prosecutors accused Menendez and his wife of accepting bribes in cash, gold bars, and car and mortgage payments from businessmen seeking his influence.
If Menendez resigns, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint a replacement. Menendez was a key Senate committee chair and ally to President Biden. His sentencing is set for October 29, just before the November 5 election, where he is running as an independent for another six-year term in the Senate. He is projected to lose.

A senior North Korean diplomat, Ri Il Kyu, defected to South Korea with his wife and child in November.

Ri was a counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba. His job was to prevent Cuba from forming diplomatic ties with South Korea, which it did in February. Ri secretly planned the escape, only telling his family six hours before their flight out of Cuba.
Defectors face severe punishment, including death, if caught. The number of North Korean defectors to South Korea has decreased recently due to strict border controls and high broker fees. Last year, only 196 defectors arrived in Seoul, compared to 2,700 a decade ago.
Ri said he defected because he had become disillusioned with the regime but needed to wait until his parents and parents-in-law passed away out of fear they would be prosecuted for his defection.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently promised better financial support for North Korean defectors and tax incentives for companies that hire them.

Police officers in Milwaukee shot and killed a man near the Republican National Convention site on Tuesday. Security has been a big focus since the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Saturday. Officers said the man was waving a knife and turned toward them, so they shot him. Neighbors said the man was often at a homeless camp in the area, but it's unclear if he had any connection to the convention. (More)

Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 Palestinians in Gaza, including some in a "safe zone" crowded with displaced people. Airstrikes have been happening regularly, even as Israel has reduced major ground offensives. The "safe zone" is an area where Israel told Palestinians to go for safety from ground attacks. Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants hiding among civilians. (More)

Teoscar Hernández won the MLB Home Run Derby, beating Bobby Witt Jr. in the final round. Witt's last hit could have tied Hernández but came up just feet short. Hernández is the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win.(More)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit new all-time highs on Tuesday, rising by 742.76 points or 1.85% to close at 40,954.48 — its best day in over a year. The S&P 500 rose 0.64% to close at 5,667.20, while the Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.2% to 18,509.34, with technology stocks mostly not joining in the rally. (More)

Scientists found a dead whale on a beach in New Zealand, which they identified as a spade-toothed whale, a species so rare that it has never been seen alive. The remains are now in cold storage for DNA testing. Not much is known about the whale and researchers hope the discovery will help them learn more about it.(More)

Germany’s navy still uses floppy disks.

Ancient temple discovered in Peru.

Interesting facts about the ancient Olympic Games.

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