In The NEWS

New prosecutor takes on Georgia election interference case.

Veteran lawyer Pete Skandalakis will assume the case alleging President Donald Trump and others conspired to overturn his Georgia loss in the 2020 election. The original prosecutor, Fani Willis, was disqualified due to a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she hired. Skandalakis, who heads the nonpartisan group tasked with replacing Willis, said he took the role after several other attorneys declined.



Separately, Trump called on the Justice Department to investigate prominent Democrats and financial institutions' ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after the House released thousands of emails from the Epstein estate, some of which referenced Trump. Read our previous write-up here.




Walmart CEO to retire, will be replaced by another company veteran.

Doug McMillon will step down Jan. 31 after over a decade at the helm. The 59-year-old, who began his Walmart career as a summer associate in high school, is credited with leading the retailer's expansion into e-commerce. Walmart's market cap grew from roughly $250B to over $800B under his leadership. John Furner, who heads Walmart’s US arm and also began as a store associate, will take over Feb. 1.




Scientists break record for oldest RNA sequencing with woolly mammoth remains.

The RNA came from a roughly 40,000-year-old woolly mammoth named Yuka, whose remains were preserved in Siberian permafrost. The sequencing is significant because RNA decays more quickly than DNA, yet it offers deeper insights into how animals lived. Yuka’s RNA, for example, revealed signs of stress, supporting earlier theories he died after a cave lion attack. The oldest RNA previously sequenced came from a 14,300-year-old wolf puppy.




Blue Origin rocket sends NASA's Mars satellites to space.

Jeff Bezos' company successfully launched a rocket carrying NASA spacecraft destined for Mars, and then successfully landed the rocket's booster for the first time. Bad weather foiled a first launch attempt Sunday, and strong solar activity—responsible for the auroras seen across the US—postponed a Wednesday attempt. Data collected by the spacecraft when they enter Mars' orbit in 2027 could offer insights into why the planet, once wet and warm, became dry and dusty.




Researchers overcome immune hurdle in pig-to-human transplants.

A genetically modified pig kidney survived for 61 days in a brain-dead man, a new record. During this period, researchers collected tissue, blood, and body fluid samples at a pace not possible in living patients. The data provided detailed insights into immune reactions to the transplant, enabling the first successful reversal of a pig organ rejection using a combination of federally approved drugs.




Bad Bunny wins album of the year at Latin Grammy Awards.

The Puerto Rican singer, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, won five of the 12 awards for which he was nominated ahead of his Super Bowl halftime performance in February. His sixth studio album, "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS," was named album of the year, marking the first time the 31-year-old took home a prize in one of the show's major categories. See the full list of winners here.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS