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

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Right now’s prime tales

Scientific analysis within the U.S. depends closely of foreign-born scientists, who embrace greater than half one million working below short-term visas. Throughout President-elect Donald Trump’s first time period within the White Home, these visas grew to become more durable to get – and so they’re more likely to face renewed scrutiny in his second time period.

• 🎧 The H-1B visa, the most typical for working scientists, has been known as a secret weapon as a result of it permits universities and tech firms to rent prime expertise from around the globe, 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 adjustments. Some tech corporations like Field are making the case that these visas are good for the economic system.

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 strains in Pokrovsk.

• 🎧 On the command put up, 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 Warfare 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 1000’s of recent species to the scientific file every year. This 12 months’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 completely different spots and appeared to maneuver otherwise 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 life-style distinctive for frogs. Lambert says there’s a danger of shedding these species as quickly as scientists discover them on account of local weather change and deforestation.

Right now’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 artistic card designs that characteristic simply them to have fun the vacations. NPR’s Claire Murashima obtained her first card from a single good friend 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 collaborating on this custom and see among the vacation playing cards they’ve despatched to family and friends.

Deep dive

Avocados develop on timber 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 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, nevertheless it’s unclear if they are going to be applied or if they are going to function a negotiating tactic. This is what to learn about avocados, tariffs, and why so many avocados are grown in Mexico.

• 🥑 The worth of avocados could not go up by the total 25%, nevertheless it may very well be fairly shut, on account of there being few choices on the place to supply them, meals economist David Ortega instructed NPR.
• 🥑 Mexico emerged as the most important international provider of vegatables and fruits to the U.S. on account of 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 dealing with challenges reminiscent of local weather change and the truth that avocados require massive 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 value supply drivers over $10 million in charges by creating deposit accounts for them with out 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 stated this can haven’t any influence on clients.
3. Are mashed potatoes in your vacation menu? In that case, Dan Souza of America’s Check Kitchen has a recipe and cooking suggestions that can have you ever able to whip them up completely.

This article was edited by Obed Manuel.