Ukraine-Russia war; H-1B visas; Walmart lawsuit : NPR

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As we speak’s prime tales

Scientific analysis within the U.S. depends closely of foreign-born scientists, who embrace greater than half 1,000,000 working beneath non permanent 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 most typical 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 quickly suspended new H-1B visas. The Biden administration reversed these modifications. Some tech corporations like Field are making the case that these visas are good for the economy.

Ukraine’s military has been struggling to sluggish Russia’s advance within the east. As Ukraine suffers from a manpower scarcity, the nation is relying an increasing number of on unmanned flying assault drones. NPR’s Brian Mann made a go to to a secret drone command put up close to the entrance traces in Pokrovsk.

• 🎧 On the command put up, Mann noticed groups coordinate assaults, which he described as terrifying to look at, throughout an enormous battlefield. As well as, he visited a workshop the place technicians constructed drones, concerning the measurement of a small lawnmower, and repaired some utilizing 3D printers. Using these drones may be having a significant impact. The Institute for the Research of Struggle 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 every year. This yr’s additions embrace clouded tiger cats, a frog and an orchid.

• 🎧 It took over a decade for a bunch of scientists to show that the clouded tiger cats have 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 complete lives in bushes within the rainforest and have a way of life distinctive for frogs. Lambert says there’s a risk of losing these species as quickly as scientists discover them attributable to local weather change and deforestation.

As we speak’s pay attention

Hitomi Demers, Marissa Díaz, Emily Jordan and Elisa Antrom

Compiled by NPR

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Compiled by NPR

Singles are making the time-old custom of vacation playing cards their very own. Once you get a vacation card within the mailbox, it often contains a household or a pair. However extra singles are crafting inventive card designs that characteristic simply them to have a good time the vacations. NPR’s Claire Murashima acquired her first card from a single pal and was intrigued to listen to from different singles who’re choosing up the custom. 1000’s of individuals despatched in emails sharing their tales. Hearken to them clarify why they are participating in this tradition and see some of the holiday cards they’ve sent to friends and family.

Deep dive

Avocados develop on bushes in an orchard within the municipality of Ario de Rosales, Michoacan State, Mexico, on Sept. 21, 2023. Tariffs on Mexican imports would have a giant impact on avocados within the U.S.

Alfredo Estrella/AFP through Getty Photographs

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Alfredo Estrella/AFP through Getty Photographs

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexico might impression 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 mentioned he plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, however it’s unclear if they are going to be carried out or if they are going to function a negotiating tactic. Here’s what to know about avocados, tariffs, and why so many avocados are grown in Mexico.

• 🥑 The worth of avocados might not go up by the complete 25%, however it 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 most important overseas 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 trade is going through challenges reminiscent of local weather change and the truth that avocados require giant quantities of water to develop.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Walmart supply drivers have been pushed to make use of illegally opened funds accounts, a federal lawsuit alleges.

Nam Y. Huh/AP

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Nam Y. Huh/AP

1. A federal lawsuit alleges Walmart and funds platform Department Messenger price supply drivers over $10 million in charges by creating deposit accounts for them without consent and requiring their use to receives a commission.
2. The Container Retailer, a 46-year-old retail chain, filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety on Sunday. The corporate mentioned this will have no impact on customers.
3. Are mashed potatoes in your vacation menu? In that case, Dan Souza of America’s Check Kitchen has a recipe and cooking tips that may have you ever able to whip them up completely.

This article was edited by Obed Manuel.