H-1B visas face uncertainty throughout Trump’s 2nd time period. And, the right mashed potatoes

Good morning. You are studying the Up First publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hear to the Up First podcast for all of the information you must begin your day.

At this time’s high tales

Scientific analysis within the U.S. depends closely of foreign-born scientists, who embrace greater than half 1,000,000 working underneath short-term visas. Throughout President-elect Donald Trump’s first time period within the White Home, these visas turned 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 high 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 companies like Field are making the case that these visas are good for the financial 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 increasingly more on unmanned flying assault drones. NPR’s Brian Mann made a go to to a secret drone command submit close to the entrance traces in Pokrovsk.

• 🎧 On the command submit, 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, 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 impression. The Institute for the Examine 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 document 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 completely 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 timber within the rainforest and have a life-style distinctive for frogs. Lambert says there’s a threat of shedding these species as quickly as scientists discover them on account of local weather change and deforestation.

At this time’s hear

Hitomi Demers, Marissa Díaz, Emily Jordan and Elisa Antrom

Compiled by NPR

conceal caption

toggle caption

Compiled by NPR

Singles are making the time-old custom of vacation playing cards their very own. Whenever 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 function 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 choosing up the custom. 1000’s of individuals despatched in emails sharing their tales. Take heed 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 Photos

conceal caption

toggle caption

Alfredo Estrella/AFP through Getty Photos

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexico may 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 stated he plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, nevertheless it’s unclear if they are going to be carried out or if they’ll function a negotiating tactic. This 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 complete 25%, nevertheless it might be fairly shut, on account of there being few choices on the place to supply them, meals economist David Ortega informed NPR.
• 🥑 Mexico emerged as the biggest international provider of fruit and veggies 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 going through challenges equivalent to 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 had been pushed to make use of illegally opened funds accounts, a federal lawsuit alleges.

Nam Y. Huh/AP

conceal caption

toggle caption

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 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 could have no impression on prospects.
3. Are mashed potatoes in your vacation menu? If that’s the case, Dan Souza of America’s Check Kitchen has a recipe and cooking ideas that can have you ever able to whip them up completely.

This article was edited by Obed Manuel.