Musk trial date set; “Fortnite” hits the Forum, XPrize announces new competition

XPrize announces new wildfire detection award

Marina Del Rey-based XPrize Foundation has a new award supported by governor Gavin Newsom, The Business Journal reports. The new competition will award between $5 million and $20 million to a company that can develop technology to detect and suppress fires before they blaze out of control, and will be launched by early 2020.

Musk, cave diver trial date set

Elon Musk is due to appear in California Central District Court October 22, to settle a defamation suit brought by a British cave diver Musk called a pedophile on social media. The feud began last year when Musk inappropriately retaliated against Vernon Unsworth, a diver sent to rescue a team of lost Thai boys who had criticized Musk’s plan to save them with a tiny submarine. According to The Verge, Musk could be in even hotter water after sending an email to BuzzFeed alleging that Unsworth had moved to Thailand “for a child bride.”

“Fortnite” coming to Forum this June

Beverly Hills-based Endeavor and Cary, N.C.-based Epic Games will host a “Fortnite” themed event at the Forum beginning June 15, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The event is Epic Games’ first major event, spanning two days and featuring a star-studded (and largely Endeavor-represented) cast of professional gamers and musicians. Endeavor will also oversee operations of Epic’s upcoming “Fortnite World Cup” tournament this July.

Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.