Ukraine-Russia conflict; H-1B visas; Walmart lawsuit : NPR
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In the present day’s prime tales
Scientific analysis within the U.S. depends closely of foreign-born scientists, who embrace greater than half one million working underneath momentary visas. Throughout President-elect Donald Trump’s first time period within the White Home, these visas grew to become tougher to get – and so they’re prone to face renewed scrutiny in his second time period.
- 🎧 The H-1B visa, the commonest for working scientists, has been referred to as a secret weapon as a result of it permits universities and tech firms to rent prime expertise from world wide, NPR’s Jon Hamilton tells Up First. Three months into Trump’s first time period, he unveiled a plan to limit work visas, particularly H-1B. In 2020, he briefly suspended new H-1B visas. The Biden administration reversed these modifications. Some tech companies like Field are making the case that these visas are good for the financial system.
Ukraine’s military has been struggling to gradual Russia’s advance within the east. As Ukraine suffers from a manpower scarcity, the nation is relying increasingly on unmanned flying assault drones. NPR’s Brian Mann made a go to to a secret drone command publish close to the entrance strains in Pokrovsk.
- 🎧 On the command publish, Mann noticed groups coordinate assaults, which he described as terrifying to observe, throughout an enormous battlefield. As well as, he visited a workshop the place technicians constructed drones, in regards to the measurement of a small lawnmower, and repaired some utilizing 3D printers. The usage of these drones could also be having a big influence. The Institute for the Research of Battle did an evaluation and located Russia is shedding big numbers of troopers. In a two-week interval earlier this month, Russia misplaced 3,000 troops within the Pokrovsk space.
Scientists add hundreds of latest species to the scientific report annually. This yr’s additions embrace clouded tiger cats, a frog and an orchid.
- 🎧 It took over a decade for a gaggle of scientists to show that the clouded tiger cats had been a brand new species, NPR’s Jonathan Lambert says. The cats had barely totally different spots and appeared to maneuver in another way than different species. Biologist Hugh Gabriel found a brand new species of frog in Madagascar that spend their whole lives in timber within the rainforest and have a way of life distinctive for frogs. Lambert says there’s a threat of shedding these species as quickly as scientists discover them attributable to local weather change and deforestation.
In the present day’s pay attention
Singles are making the time-old custom of vacation playing cards their very own. If you get a vacation card within the mailbox, it often encompasses a household or a pair. However extra singles are crafting inventive card designs that function simply them to have fun the vacations. NPR’s Claire Murashima obtained her first card from a single pal and was intrigued to listen to from different singles who’re selecting up the custom. Hundreds of individuals despatched in emails sharing their tales. Hearken to them clarify why they’re taking part on this custom and see among the vacation playing cards they’ve despatched to family and friends.
Deep dive
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexico may influence how a lot you pay for avocados on the retailer. About 90% of avocados consumed within the U.S. are imported and the bulk come from Mexico. Trump stated he plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, but it surely’s unclear if they are going to be applied or if they are going to function a negotiating tactic. Here is what to find out about avocados, tariffs, and why so many avocados are grown in Mexico.
- 🥑 The value of avocados could not go up by the total 25%, but it surely may very well be fairly shut, attributable to there being few choices on the place to supply them, meals economist David Ortega advised NPR.
- 🥑 Mexico emerged as the biggest international provider of vegatables and fruits to the U.S. attributable to its proximity to the U.S.
- 🥑 Mexico’s climate permits for year-round manufacturing of avocados and producers have entry to low-cost labor.
- 🥑 Along with the specter of tariffs, the avocado business is dealing with challenges comparable to local weather change and the truth that avocados require massive quantities of water to develop.
3 issues to know earlier than you go
- A federal lawsuit alleges Walmart and funds platform Department Messenger price supply drivers over $10 million in charges by creating deposit accounts for them with out consent and requiring their use to receives a commission.
- The Container Retailer, a 46-year-old retail chain, filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety on Sunday. The corporate stated this could have no influence on clients.
- Are mashed potatoes in your vacation menu? In that case, Dan Souza of America’s Check Kitchen has a recipe and cooking suggestions that may have you ever able to whip them up completely.
This text was edited by Obed Manuel.