Good morning. It's Wednesday, July 17, and we're covering a historic verdict against a US senator, the sale of the largest stegosaurus skeleton found, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here. |
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New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D) was convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion in New York's Southern District Court yesterday, prompting calls for his immediate resignation. The three-term senator was found guilty on all 16 felony counts and could face decades in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Oct. 29.
The 70-year-old and two businessmen were found guilty of a bribery scheme in which Menendez—the former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—received payments in gold and cash to influence New Jersey criminal investigations and provide intel to Egyptian officials. The senator's wife, Nadine, faces similar charges in a trial that was indefinitely postponed yesterday amid her breast cancer treatment.
Menendez is seeking a fourth six-year term in the US Senate after announcing last month he would run as an independent. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New Jersey's governor both called for Menendez to step down in light of the verdict. Read an in-depth profile of Menendez here. |
A 161-million-year-old stegosaurus fossil, dubbed "Apex" and the largest of its kind to be found, will be auctioned by Sotheby's in New York today as part of its Geek Week series. Apex is expected to fetch between $4M and $6M.
The nearly complete fossil—measuring 11 feet tall and 27 feet long—is twice the size of "Sophie," previously the most intact stegosaurus uncovered and currently on display in London's Natural History Museum. A commercial paleontologist discovered Apex in May 2022 on private land near Dinosaur, Colorado (named for its proximity to Dinosaur National Monument). The fossil features iconic pointy dorsal plates resembling a "coloring book dinosaur." The remains also show signs of arthritis, indicating the stegosaurus reached an advanced age. See photos here.
Past dinosaur fossils sold at auction include the T. rex "Stan," which garnered a record $31.8M in 2020, and the T. rex "Sue," which Chicago's Field Museum bought for $8.4M in 1997. |
A senior North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba has defected to South Korea, Seoul's National Intelligence Service confirmed yesterday. Ri Il Kyu, who defected in November with his family, is believed to be the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape to South Korea since 2016.
The 52-year-old counselor was responsible for political affairs at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba. Ri's role reportedly involved preventing Cuba from establishing diplomatic ties with South Korea—he defected before the two formalized relations in February. Ri told South Korean media his decision to defect stemmed partially from disappointment with North Korea's leadership. See the full interview here.
The news comes at a time of heightened tension between the two Koreas over trash- and leaflet-filled balloons and follows South Korea's first North Korean Defectors' Day ceremony Sunday. Since the Korean War, approximately 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
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> Secret Service officials reveal former President Donald Trump's security detail had been increased in recent weeks due to an Iranian assassination threat; threat believed to be unrelated to Saturday's attempt (More) | Investigators continue to search for motive in Saturday's attack; see latest details (More) |
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