• As demand for EVs cooled, hybrid cars took off in 2024.
• Companies that placed early bets on hybrids reaped the rewards.
• Hybrids will likely play a big role in the electric transition.

Hybrid cars had a huge comeback in 2024.

These cars, which use a mix of battery-electric and gas power, emerged as the winner in a year when demand for EVs hit a plateau.

A new group of green-car shoppers flooded the market in 2024, and unlike their wealthy early adopter counterparts, these new consumers are much more practical. The compromise of a hybrid appeals to these shoppers, who tend to be both environmentally conscious and budget-conscious.

This shift toward hybrids was great news for companies like Toyota, which remained steadfast in the hybrid market as others fled to focus on pure EVs. Meanwhile, other companies were left scrambling last year as their expensive plans to phase out gas-powered cars hit a roadblock.

Here's how 2024 became the year of the hybrid car.

1. Shoppers cooled on EVs

In 2024, demand for electric cars pulled back as wealthy early adopters fled the segment.

What automotive executives and industry watchers initially identified as price sensitivity turned out to be a bigger problem for EVs. A different breed of car shoppers started flocking to dealer lots, and they were more drawn to the compromise of a hybrid.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk once blamed the popularity of hybrid cars for the company's poor sales performance in the first half of the year.

Read more about how automakers were forced to rethink their EV plans.

2. Hybrids weren't immune to rising prices

Affordability became a key issue for car shoppers last year as higher interest rates kept shoppers on a budget. Hybrids were often considered a more affordable option, but that rule didn't always hold true.

Massive demand for a specific type of hybrid car, the plug-in hybrid, sent prices of these already expensive models soaring.

Read more about how everyone wanted a plug-in hybrid, and how that demand sent prices soaring.

3. EV demand took a hit

Greater numbers of average customers were in the market for electric cars last year, and these shoppers weren't as easily swayed as the wealthy early adopters who drove the segment's early growth.

Car companies weren't prepared for this stark drop-off in demand and were stuck slashing prices on their big, expensive EVs while they quickly pivoted to offering more hybrids.

Read more about how automakers over-estimated EV demand.

4. Hybrid bets paid off

Sales of hybrid cars took off in the first quarter of last year, benefiting companies like Toyota and Ford. Both of these big-name brands have a wide range of hybrid options, including the more expensive plug-in variety.

The Ford F-150 and Toyota RAV4 were the two most popular cars of 2024. Both saw huge sales increases last year due to interest in their hybrid models, executives have said.

"Hybrids are just rockin'," Toyota Motor North America Sales Chief David Christ said in March.

Read more about how Toyota was right about hybrid cars all along. And how Ford's secret weapon in the fight against Tesla has been hybrids.

5. Hybrids proved that they were here to stay

While the first wave of early adopters only lasted a few years for EV sellers, this more practical shopper is here to stay — at least for now.

Studies last year showed plenty of interest in pure electric vehicles, but many average consumers will require hybrids as a stepping stone as issues like charging infrastructure and affordability continue to exist.

While companies remain steadfast in their commitment to all-electric futures, several are making hybrids a bigger part of that transition.

Read more about how a hybrid-car comeback is in the making — and it could be great news for your wallet.

• Luxury beachfront high-rises on the coast of Miami's barrier islands are sinking, a new study found.
• Subsidence and rising seas are a global problem, affecting up to $109 billion of US coastal property by 2050.
• Satellites could spot buildings that are sinking or tilting for early intervention.

Coastal properties worldwide are sinking, including some of Miami's pricey waterfront high-rises.

In a study published in the journal Earth and Space Science in December, researchers found that 35 buildings along the coasts of Miami's barrier islands have sunk into the ground by 2 to 8 centimeters between 2016 and 2023.

This sinking phenomenon, called subsidence, is happening "almost everywhere that we look," said Manoochehr Shirzaei, a geophysicist at Virginia Tech who was not involved in the Miami-area study.

That sinking can lead to expensive — and sometimes deadly — damage and flooding in some of the most populated places on Earth. It doesn't have to, though.

The new Miami study shows how satellites can help save buildings and infrastructure before the sinking contributes to catastrophic failure.

Coastal cities' sinking problem

Cities all over the world weigh so much and draw so much groundwater from beneath them that they're sinking into the ground. It's been documented on every continent.

Sinking coastal cities are extra vulnerable because the seas are rising to meet them, doubling the flood risk.

"One centimeter of sea level rise and one centimeter of subsidence each have the same effects" on flooding hazards, the lead authors of the new Miami study, Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani and Falk Amelung, told BI in an email.

Many of the most afflicted coastal cities are in eastern and southern Asia, but major hubs in Europe, Africa, and Australia are also sinking rapidly.

In the US, Shirzaei's research group found that huge swaths of the East Coast — including New York and Baltimore — are sinking by at least 2 millimeters each year.

In a follow-up study, Shirzaei's research group found Gulf Coast cities sinking even more.

Expensive flood risks and structural damage

Despite its prevalence, subsidence isn't usually factored into future flooding estimates.

By combining it with sea-level rise projections, Shirzaei's group estimated that up to 518,000 more Americans will be exposed to high tide flooding by 2050 in up to 288,000 more properties, amounting to $109 billion in property value.

It's not just flooding, though. Subsidence can also compromise a building's structural integrity.

"The situation becomes concerning when different parts of the building move at varying rates," Aziz Zanjani and Amelung said.

"This can cause structural damage, such as cracks or distortions, which could compromise the building's safety over time," they added.

Knowing if and how buildings are sinking could help prevent future damage. That's where the Miami researchers' study comes in.

Satellites can spy hot spots before they sink too far

After the 2021 collapse of the Champlain South Condominium Tower in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people, Miami researchers began to wonder if the ground beneath that building was part of the problem.

When they assessed satellite data, they didn't find any indication of subsidence before the incident, which surprised them because so much construction was happening in the area.

They'd found that the subsidence of other buildings was associated with nearby construction. The researchers think the difference is sand.

The limestone underground might be interspersed with sandy layers in the barrier islands. Vibrations from construction could cause the sand grains to shift and give way under the buildings' weight.

Though there are likely other factors at play, having such a specific link to the subsidence of specific structures can be helpful. That's the first step in solving a building's sinking problem.

"It would be incredibly helpful if this type of information were more readily available to researchers," Aziz Zanjani and Amelung said.

The Miami researchers are seeking more funding to study Miami's sediments and investigate uneven subsidence, where different parts of a building sink at different rates.

Shirzaei said satellite remote-sensing could be a diagnostic tool to scan specific regions — such as Miami's barrier islands — for buildings tilting on uneven land subsidence. Then, investigators can target at-risk spots and, if necessary, suggest structural reinforcements.

After all, the Miami scientists wrote in their paper, "There are no indications that subsidence will come to a stop."

• Netflix has delivered another thriller based on one of Harlan Coben's books.
• "Missing You" follows a detective whose fiancé has been missing for 11 years.
• The show is billed as a limited series, but there would be plenty to explore in a second season.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Missing You."

Fans of "Missing You," Netflix's latest adaptation of a Harlan Coben book, may be wondering if a second season is coming.

The show comes after Coben's "Fool Me Once," which was released on January 1, 2024 and became one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time. It has been viewed 98 million times, according to the streamer.

In "Missing You," detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) tries to uncover why her fiancé disappeared and her father died 11 years ago.

Netflix has promoted the show as a limited series, so it seems unlikely a second season will be made. None of the other Coben adaptations have had one, either.

But the ending leaves things on an emotional cliffhanger and it would be possible for Netflix to continue the story, which it might be tempted to do if it's as big a success as "Fool Me Once."

The series ends with Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters), Kat's fiancé, confessing to her that he accidentally killed her father, Clint Donovan (Lenny Henry) while trying to defend his friend, Aqua Venech (Mary Malone).

Aqua accidentally learned that Clint was secretly gay and had been in a relationship with a man for 14 years. Josh arrived at Aqua's apartment when Clint was threatening her with a knife, and accidentally stabbed him during the fight.

Josh then left Kat suddenly because he couldn't deal with the guilt of killing her father.

Kat is shocked, and although the couple had started to rekindle their relationship, it's unclear whether they could stay together now she knows the truth.

A hypothetical second season of "Missing You" could explore whether the pair stay together and if Kat goes to the police. It could also return to the organized crime subplot involving gangster Dominic Calligan (James Nesbitt).

But for now, it looks like "Missing You" is a one-off.

• Chief Justice John Roberts flagged threats to the judicial system in his year-end review.
• Disgruntled lawmakers and litigants pose a threat to judicial independence, Roberts wrote.
• Roberts didn't name anyone specifically when he admonished public officials for intimidating judges.

False accusations and charged rhetoric against judges pose a threat to judicial independence, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his year-end review for 2024.

The report, published on Tuesday, delved into the dangers posed by disgruntled politicians and litigants against judges and the wider judicial system.

Roberts said in his report that some judicial decisions are "egregiously wrong" and do merit pushback, but that "not all actors engage in 'informed criticism.'"

"I feel compelled to address four areas of illegitimate activity that, in my view, do threaten the independence of judges on which the rule of law depends: (1) violence, (2) intimidation, (3) disinformation, and (4) threats to defy lawfully entered judgments," Roberts wrote.

The report came not long before President-elect Donald Trump is due to be inaugurated on January 20.

Roberts did not mention Trump in the report, though it did cite instances of litigants airing their criticisms of judges.

"Today, in the computer era, intimidation can take different forms," Roberts wrote. "Disappointed litigants rage at judicial decisions on the Internet, urging readers to send a message to the judge."

"They falsely claim that the judge had it in for them because of the judge's race, gender, or ethnicity—or the political party of the President who appointed the judge," the chief justice added.

Trump has notably clashed with judges presiding over cases against him.

He was repeatedly fined for violating his gag order during his New York hush-money trial.

The former president was held in contempt of court after criticizing his presiding judge, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan during an interview with "Real America's Voice" in April.

"But this judge, uh, said that I can't get away from the trial. You know he's rushing the trial like crazy. Nobody's ever seen a thing go like this. The jury was picked so fast — 95% Democrats," Trump said in a phone interview with the network.

Trump also clashed repeatedly with Lewis Kaplan, the judge in a defamation suit brought against him by E. Jean Carroll.

In his report, Roberts admonished public officials for attempting to intimidate judges, though he stopped short of naming them.

"Public officials certainly have a right to criticize the work of the judiciary, but they should be mindful that intemperance in their statements when it comes to judges may prompt dangerous reactions by others," Roberts wrote.

The chief justice also admonished lawmakers for trying to defy the Supreme Court's decisions.

"Elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard for federal court rulings," the chief justice wrote.

In April 2023, congressional Democrats urged the White House to ignore a federal judge's decision to block the sale of the abortion pill mifepristone. The Biden administration rejected the suggestion. The Supreme Court later upheld access to the drug in a ruling issued in June.

The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• AI is reshaping job searches, offering speed and automation for rudimentary tasks.
• There are pros and cons for recruiters, who are now getting more applications than ever.
• Candidates should use AI as a tool, experts say, adding personal touches to stand out.

AI is transforming job searches for both candidates and recruiters.

But with all the tools that make the application process easier and faster than ever, there are traps you can fall into.

Andrea Miller, the founder of LeadWell Company, a global leadership consultancy that helps organizations navigate the future of work, told Business Insider that while AI can save time and effort by streamlining applications, optimizing resumes, and improving interview preparation, it also comes with some challenges.

"Generic, AI-generated applications can fail to stand out," Miller said, "And relying on AI without reviewing its output can lead to mistakes or misrepresentations."

Recruitment and AI pros explained to BI the dos and don'ts of using these tools and how candidates can make the most of the technology available when job hunting.

Mock tests, interviews, and portfolios

James Uffindell, the founder and CEO of the graduate recruitment platform Bright Network, told BI that AI can be very advantageous in the job hunt, especially for underrepresented and neurodiverse candidates.

"It helps level the playing field by offering better preparation opportunities, such as practice assessments and mock interviews, that may not have been otherwise available," he said.

Candidates can take advantage of many tools, such as CV builders like Kickresume and mock interview platforms like Interview Warmup by Google. Indeed's Pathfinder also helps people discover career paths that fit their skills.

Jason Heilman, the senior VP of product, automation, and AI at the staffing industry software company Bullhorn, told BI the company has a screening agent where candidates can conduct their first interview with an AI — something that could one day replace resumes entirely.

"You really get to see so much more," Heilman said of the technology. "It unlocks so much more of the person's potential beyond what a résumé could ever capture."

Heilman said it benefits candidates to be responsive and open to changes, even if it feels a bit strange at first.

"Be willing to try out these screeners," he said. "Lean into the opportunities to respond, and lean in when you are faced with new AI tools like this."

Cori Lunnen, the VP of recruitment marketing operations at HireClix, told BI that candidates should not hesitate to use AI tools to create a résumé, cover letter, or portfolio.

"The future is undeniably AI-driven," she said. "So some recruiters will want to see examples of how a candidate can successfully integrate AI-generated content with their own creativity."

The goal should be to use AI as a starting place, Lunnen said, "but then ultimately create something more unique or tailored to the opportunity it's designed to engage."

Be careful with prompts

According to Jennifer Burns, director of career development of Cornell University's executive MBA program, learning to put in the right prompts is crucial.

She advises candidates to put their resumes into ChatGPT along with the job description and ask a question like: "What are the 10 most important skills and keywords a hiring manager will look for to fill this role?"

"For the most useful output, you want to begin with input. For example, you can provide details such as your degree, your major, and your past experience," Burns told The Wall Street Journal.

"You can also input information about your major accomplishments, some of your highlights, and what motivates you, thinking about what you're good at and what you like doing. Then, after you share that information, you can ask specific questions."

Burns said AI tools can also help you determine good questions to ask at the end of the interview.

But she warned that candidates must ensure that everything makes sense and that they have a thorough understanding of the role. "Just putting in keywords for the sake of putting them in to match a job description isn't going to serve you well," she told the publication.

A personal touch is still important

On the recruiter's side, implementing AI can free up mental bandwidth, previously dominated by administrative tasks like scheduling, so recruiters can focus on providing a better experience for the candidates who move to the next stages.

But this has its downsides too. Uffindell said some recruiters are seeing a 500% increase in the number of applications, which makes it important to still stand out.

"It's important to view AI as a tool to support, not replace, your own words," Uffindell said. "While AI can help streamline the process, relying on it too heavily can lead to generic applications that fail to showcase a candidate's unique qualities."

Vrijen Attawar, a former career coach and now the founder and CEO of the AI-powered career guidance platform Careerspan, told BI that in this current environment, candidates should apply to fewer jobs so as to "not contribute to the application spam pile."

"Avoid the temptation to use easy apply or other similar tools to apply for jobs," he said. "Instead, save your time and sanity for the opportunities you can verify are real and excite you."

All AI tools have limitations. Some make things up or exaggerate information, so it is a candidate's responsibility to proofread everything and ensure it is accurate before submitting an application.

"ChatGPT 4's knowledge cut-off is April 2023, for example," Uffindell said. "So any major industry updates or company changes since then won't be included in ChatGPT outputs, so you'll need to do your own research, too."

Uffindell said personalizing each application to the specific role is still crucial because employers are looking for candidates who can communicate their strengths well and who have good soft skills.

"The strongest applications will combine AI's efficiency with the candidate's own knowledge," he said. "Showcasing not only the right skills but also the ability to navigate AI's limitations."

• There are so many drones in Ukraine that operators sometimes accidentally pick up other feeds.
• Those moments can provide incoming attack warnings and intelligence.
• It is an emerging element within the constantly evolving drone war.

There are so many drones in the sky in Ukraine that drone operators are occasionally stumbling onto drone feeds and picking up unexpected intel. Neither side can be sure though when they are going to luck into this or when the enemy will suddenly get insight into their own activities.

Drones are being used more in Russia's war against Ukraine than in any other conflict in history, including cheap first-person-view drones. They are being used to attack troops and vehicles, complicating battlefield maneuvers, and they're so prolific that ground troops often struggle to sort out which ones are their drones and which belong to the enemy.

Ukrainian drone operators told Business Insider that extensive drone warfare has resulted in unintentional feed switching.

When this occurs, operators on one side of the battlefield can see the feed of the other side's drone — typically airborne devices that can target soldiers and gather intelligence to direct fires. A drone operator in Ukraine said being able to see Russian drone feeds is "useful because you see where the enemy drone that wants to destroy you is flying."

That gives the unit a chance to take defensive action.

Samuel Bendett, a drone expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, described it as the wartime version of a common civilian occurrence. When you drive in your car and have your radio at a certain frequency, your radio can flip between different stations that use the same frequency. That is what is happening right now in Ukraine, Bendett said.

Fight for the spectrum

Jackie, a US veteran fighting in Ukraine, said: "Right now, there are two fights when we're fighting with drones. There's one that you can see on video. And there's one that's completely invisible." That invisible fight is the fight in the electromagnetic spectrum or "fight for the spectrum."

The electromagnetic spectrum can get "full" and get "crowded," he explained. When there are enough drones in an area, you'll have "a lot of the feeds between those drones transferring, basically switching between operators without intent."

When that situation happens, it means "the drone guy would just suddenly see some other drones feed," Jackie said. So when enough drones are in the sky, everyone is "constantly switching feeds between some other drone that they're not flying."

Bendett said it was possible to do this deliberately if you know the frequency your adversary is operating on, but most of the time, he said, it's accidental.

He said this sort of thing happens "because technologies for both sides are similar, and there's only so many operating frequencies you can hop on to actually pilot your drones."

Advantages and disadvantages

As neither side has dominated the electromagnetic spectrum through electronic warfare, both sides are experiencing all the advantages and disadvantages of these developments. Sometimes Ukraine is collecting intel, and sometimes it's Russia.

The feed can help operators helplessly realize an attack is incoming, and "it also can be very informative for drone crews, experienced ones to kind of determine the tactic of the adversary, how far the drone flies, how fast it flies, what's the drone route, what the drone is looking for, and so on and so forth," Bendett said.

But it's a hard thing to plan for given the chaotic nature of these occurrences.

Jackie shared that Ukraine has attempted to "play games with the signals," but Gregory Falso, an autonomous systems and cybersecurity expert at Cornell University, said that "it's probably not predictable when you'd be able to get these capabilities." It's more about seizing the advantage when the opportunity arises.

Switching signals

Falco said it would be difficult to tell if the enemy has access to a feed because "you don't have absolute certainty of where your band is at a given time and where you're projecting."

There are questions about whether this could be taken further, though, going from accidental insight to deliberately pirated drones. Right now, that's more theory than practice.

Whether any Ukrainian or Russian operators could actually get control of the other side's drone, rather than just being able to see through its eyes, probably depends on the drone, Falco said.

He explained that the spectral bands used to see drone feeds are likely very different from the ones that control it. And the bands used to receive signals — that let the operator see what the drone can see — are typically less protected than the ones that send the signals, which is how operators tell drones what to do.

He said the feed switching is "bound to happen" with so many drones in the sky and with different types of electronic warfare in play.

Solutions, Falco said, could involve something like added encryptions for drone feeds. But given the fast-moving, chaotic, and desperate nature of a lot of the fighting and the fact that drone operators can go through multiple drones a day and Ukraine, it may not be worth it. And if that's the case, this kind of thing will keep happening.

He said it was the type of thing civilians would frequently see if there was less regulation. "If we didn't have rules," and the likes of the United Nations body that allocates the radio spectrum didn't exist, "and companies didn't bother playing by the rules, then this would be a normal occurrence," Falco said.

Then, it would just be "a total shit show of hearing and seeing everything that you're not supposed to see."

Ukraine, often short on other weaponry as it faces off against Russia's larger military, has been relying on drones, including to replace ammunition amid its shortages. And even the cheap drones have let Ukraine destroy Russian equipment worth millions.

Ukraine's drones are critical assets in the war and are said to account for at least 80% of Russia's frontline losses. Drones are super vital. They're one of our more clever casualty-producing weapons," Jackie said.

• "Missing You" is the latest adaptation of a book by Harlan Coben.
• It follows detective Kat Donovan whose fiancé disappeared.
• The series includes several actors from other Netflix shows based on Coben's work.

The latest Harlan Coben Netflix thriller, "Missing You," features a handful of actors from previous adaptations of the author's mystery novels.

Rosalind Eleazar plays detective Kat Donovan, a woman whose fiancé, Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters), disappeared without a trace eleven years ago.

When she spots his profile on a dating app it forces her to reexamine her life, including the suspicious circumstances surrounding her father's death.

"Missing You" was released on Netflix exactly one year after the previous Coben series, "Fool Me Once," starring Michelle Keegan, which was one of the streamer's most-watched shows of the year.

The cast of the new series includes three actors who subscribers might recognize from previous Coben adaptations.

Richard Armitage plays Ellis Stagger in "Missing You" and previously appeared in "Stay Close," "The Stranger," and "Fool Me Once."

Richard Armitage plays a major role in "Missing You" as sergeant Ellis Stagger, Donovan's police boss who is involved with the mystery surrounding her father's death. The series marks Armitage's fourth appearance in a Coben Netflix series.

In 2020 he played Adam Price, a father of two whose wife goes missing shortly after a mysterious stranger (Hannah John-Kamen) approaches him out of the blue and tells him a secret.

Then, in 2021, he played paparazzi photographer Ray Levine who is one of the major suspects in the murder of Stewart Green (Rod Hunt) in a cold case that resurfaces in the present day.

And in 2024, he played Joe Burkett in "Fool Me Once," Maya Stern's (Michelle Keegan) dead husband who mysteriously appears on a nanny cam in their home.

James Nesbitt plays Calligan and also appeared in "Stay Close"

Irish actor James Nesbitt plays Calligan, a nefarious gangster, in "Missing You" and it's insinuated that he had something to do with the death of Donovan's father.

He has a pretty murky backstory, as one police officer tells Donovan that Calligan almost murdered his classmate with a claw hammer when he was at school.

Nesbitt previously starred in "Stay Close" with Armitage and played detective Michael Broome, the police officer who investigates the disappearance of Del Flynn (Ross Boatman), a businessman who vanished exactly 17 years after Green went missing.

As is the case in all good Coben TV shows, he realizes he has a surprisingly personal connection to the case.

Marc Warren plays Monte Leburn and appeared in "Safe"

Rounding out the Coben alumni is Marc Warren, who plays Monte Leburn, the hitman who confessed to killing Donovan's father — despite having no reason to do so.

His actions confuse Donovan as she tires to find the truth truth about his death.

Audiences might recognize Warren from "Safe," in which he played Dr. Pete Mayfield, the best friend of Tom Delaney (Michael C. Hall), a widower. Delaney asks Mayfield for help when his daughter, Jenny (Amy-Leigh Hickman), goes missing after a house party.

• BI rounded up the movies that got a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes in 2024 with 25 reviews or more.
• Most of the films are fictional dramas centered on family dynamics and working-class characters.
• "All We Imagine as Light" received the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Some of the year's top-rated movies are ones that may have flown under the radar.

Business Insider rounded up the titles that earned perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores this year with at least 25 reviews.

These include films that tackle serious subjects, from working-class struggles to coming-of-age challenges. But not all the top-reviewed movies are dramas. "LaRoy, Texas," a crime comedy starring Steve Zahn and John Magaro, also earned a 100% critics score.

All Rotten Tomatoes scores were current as of December 31, 2024, and are subject to change.

"All We Imagine as Light"

Number of reviews: 124

What it's about: "All We Imagine as Light," written and directed by Payal Kapadia, is set in Mumbai and follows Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha), two nurses and roommates, and Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), their coworker who's a cook at the hospital. The film explores the power of friendship among the three women as they navigate personal challenges, from affairs to eviction.

Why you should watch: Critics are enchanted by Kapadia's second feature film, calling it "dreamlike," "luminous," and a "sensual triumph." The movie feels like an ode to Mumbai, where the bustling city is captured so vibrantly that it becomes a character in the narrative, too.

"All We Imagine as Light" premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the prestigious Grand Prix award.

Where to watch: In select theaters.

Watch the trailer for "All We Imagine as Light" here.

"Daughters"

Number of reviews: 65

What it's about: "Daughters" is a documentary from filmmakers Natalie Rae and Angela Patton about a group of girls getting ready for a dance with their incarcerated dads. For some of them, it will be the only physical contact that they have with their fathers while they serve their prison sentences.

Why you should watch: Critics called "Daughters" emotionally moving, providing a grounded view into what it's like having a family member in prison. Some praised the film for focusing on, and humanizing, its subjects.

"Daughters" earned two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered: festival favorite and audience choice: U.S. documentary competition.

Where to watch: Netflix

"Nowhere Special"

Number of reviews: 63

What it's about: "Nowhere Special" centers on John (James Norton), a 35-year-old window cleaner and single dad who is raising his 4-year-old son Michael (Daniel Lamont) after the kid's mom leaves following his birth. When John learns that he has a few months left to live, he becomes determined to prepare his son for his death and find a new family for him.

Why you should watch: Uberto Pasolini's drama, originally released in 2021 before getting a US theatrical release this year, is an understated and tender look at life and death. Critics say Norton's performance as a father dying of brain cancer is tear-inducing, and his young costar Lamont shows signs of a promising future as an actor. Despite its heartbreaking premise, "Nowhere Special" maintains a hopeful outlook.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Watch the trailer for "Nowhere Special" here.

"Jim Henson Idea Man"

Number of reviews: 60

What it's about: This documentary, from Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, follows Jim Henson's storied career, from the Muppets franchise to films like "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth." The film includes footage from Henson's archives, as well as interviews with prior collaborators and family members.

Why you should watch: Critics praised the documentary as capturing Henson's spirit without sanitizing his life. Some wrote that while Howard takes a fairly straightforward biographical approach, it works well for Henson as a subject.

"Jim Henson Idea Man" premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in the "Cannes Classics" section. It won five Emmy awards, including outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and outstanding motion design.

Where to watch: Disney+

"Sugarcane"

Number of reviews: 57

What it's about: Directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, "Sugarcane" follows the aftermath of unmarked graves being discovered near an Indian residential school in Canada that was run by the Catholic Church and closed in 1981. The film tracks a Williams Lake First Nation investigation into abuse and missing children at St. Joseph's mission.

Why you should watch: Critics praised the film as empathetic, sensitive, and in some cases, "devastating." Some praised the film for the way depicts the aftermath of tragedy and injustice.

The film won the U.S. documentary — directing award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered. It has also received documentary film awards at the Sarasota Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and from the National Board of Review, among others.

Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+

"Girls Will Be Girls"

Number of reviews: 53

What it's about: The coming-of-age Indian film stars Preeti Panigrahi as Mira, a 16-year-old girl constrained by the rules of her boarding school and her strict mother when she develops a connection with a new student named Srinivas (Kesav Binoy Kiron) and expresses interest in exploring her sexuality and desires.

Why you should watch: Critics call "Girls Will Be Girls" a stellar debut for first-time feature filmmaker Shuchi Talati, who also wrote the script. Many agree that the movie tackles typical coming-of-age themes with a cultural specificity that makes "Girls Will Be Girls" stand out from the myriad of other existing films in the genre.

The protagonist's intimate journey is examined with sensitivity and quiet moments that let the cinematography and scene composition do all the talking."

"Girls Will Be Girls" earned the audience award in the world cinema dramatic category at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Watch the trailer for "Girls Will Be Girls" here.

"No Other Land"

Number of reviews: 49

What it's about: Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, "No Other Land" is a documentary about Palestine and Israel. It follows the Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes and schools in Masafer Yatta, a group of West Bank villages that Adra calls home. The four directors hail from Palestine and Israel, and filmed over the course of four years.

Why you should watch: Critics described "No Other Land" as "essential," important, and emotionally affecting viewing.

The film has picked up dozens of film festival and critic awards, including the Berlinale documentary film award and Panorama audience award for best documentary film at the Berlin International Film Festival, and best documentary and non-fiction film awards from Los Angeles, Boston, and New York critics groups, among others.

Where to watch: "No Other Land" is available to purchase or rent in some regions, though it does not yet have distribution in the United States.

"I Am: Celine Dion"

Number of reviews: 46

What it's about: This documentary, directed by Irene Taylor, tracks Dion's diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, a condition that causes the muscles to stiffen involuntarily. The documentary includes archival footage from Dion's storied career, and follows her through her diagnosis, treatment, and desire to return to the stage.

Why you should watch: Critics called the documentary "raw," doing justice to Dion's legendary career while humanizing her as as a subject. Adrian Horton of the Guardian called the film "unabashedly sentimental" and "deeply earnest."

Where to watch: Prime Video

"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl"

Number of reviews: 46

What it's about: The A24 dark comedy stars Susan Chardy as Shula, a woman who discovers her Uncle Fred's body on the road one night. With the dayslong funeral proceedings underway, she must confront the secrets of her middle-class Zambian family.

Why you should watch: Critics say the film is compelling and intriguing, with a script that deftly balances its serious subject material with moments of humor. Many have also praised Nyoni's sharp directing style and her exploration of the political, cultural, and social facets of Zambian life.

Where to watch: "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" is currently not available to stream. It will be released in limited theaters on March 7.

Watch the trailer for "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" here.

"Music By John Williams"

Number of reviews: 45

What it's about: Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, "Music By John Williams" examines the storied composer's career and work across multiple franchises. The film features interviews with people like Steven Spielberg, who worked with Williams on films like "Jaws" and "E.T.," and George Lucas, creator of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones."

Why you should watch: Critics wrote that the film was a fitting tribute to Williams and a lovely celebration of his work. Some praised the film's depiction of Williams' relationships with filmmakers, including Spielberg and Lucas.

"Music By John Williams" won the award for best music documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

Where to watch: Disney+

Watch the trailer for "Music By John Williams" here.

"LaRoy, Texas"

Number of reviews: 42

What it's about: The comedy, written and directed by Shane Atkinson, stars Steve Zahn as a private detective named Skip and John Magaro as Ray, a man who becomes depressed after he learns that his wife is cheating on him. As Ray is about to shoot himself with a gun and end his life, his life takes a wild turn when he gets mistaken for a hitman and becomes involved in an assassination plan.

Why you should watch: Critics say that Atkinson's feature directorial debut is an entertaining thrill ride, toeing the line between believable absurdity and over-the-top shenanigans. The influence of and nods to the filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are plentiful, and the movie is bolstered by a solid cast comprised of Magaro, Zahn, and Dylan Baker.

"LaRoy, Texas" won three major prizes at the 49th Deauville American Film Festival: the Grand Prize, the Audience Award, and the Critics Award.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV+. Also available to stream on MGM+.

Watch the trailer for "LaRoy, Texas" here.

• "Missing You" follows Kat Donovan whose fiancé, Josh Buchanan, disappears.
• She starts hunting for answers after she spots him on a dating app 11 years later.
• Her investigation also forces her to ask who murdered Clint Donovan, her father.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Missing You."

Netflix has kicked 2025 off strong with "Missing You," the latest thriller based on a Harlan Coben book.

It follows the hugely successful Coben adaptation "Fool Me Once," which became one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time in 2024.

The new series revolves around Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar), a detective who has never gotten over her fiancé, Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters) disappearing without warning 11 years ago.

He left shortly after her father Clint Donovan (Lenny Henry), a police inspector, was murdered. It's another incident that she wants answers for after a hitman confessed to the killing.

Who really killed Kat's father? Why did Josh leave? All the answers are revealed by the end of "Missing You."

Josh Buchanan was never on the dating app, his profile was created by Titus Monroe's scamming group

"Missing You" starts with Kat spotting Josh on the Melody Cupid dating app. But it emerges his account was faked as part of an extensive romance scam being run by a man called Titus Monroe (Steve Pemberton), from his remote farm.

He and his associates had a room full of laptops, computers, and phones that they used to lure unsuspecting single people into fake online relationships.

Once their victims were invested, the scammers invited them on a fake romantic getaway, kidnapped them, and held them at the farm where Titus forced them to transfer him thousands of pounds.

That's what happened to Rishi Maghari (Rudi Dharmalingam), the lecturer, who audiences meet in the first episode.

Buchanan's dating profile was harvested from a Facebook account made by his secret daughter, Sadie (Amelie Dokubo), whom he had with an unknown woman after leaving Kat.

In the final episode, the scam operation is stopped when Titus realizes that the police are closing in and he burns the farm down. He tries to kill Dana Fells (Lisa Faulkner), one of his scam victims, and her son Brendan (Oscar Kennedy) to cover his tracks. But Kat arrives and shoots Titus dead before he can kill anyone.

But none of this answers the key mystery behind Josh's disappearance or Clint's death, it just ties up the subplot regarding the various missing people that Kat was investigating.

Clint Donovan was blackmailed into working for a gangster to hide that he was gay

By the end of "Missing You," Kat learns that her father was a corrupt officer working for Calligan (James Nesbitt), a gangster.

It's a surprise because Kat had an idealistic view of her father as a hardworking police officer. But that's not the only twist: Calligan points her toward someone called Parker (Cyril Nri), who is revealed to be a man that Clint was having an affair with.

Kat learns that her father was secretly gay, and Calligan was using that to blackmail him into working for him. Parker and Clint were in a committed relationship, which they kept secret because of Clint's family and his job.

Josh left after accidentally killing Clint, who was trying to cover up his secret relationship

When Kat finds Josh in Scotland, she initially thinks he left because he knew Clint was corrupt and, for a moment, it looks like they could rekindle their relationship.

But when the tech genius Charlie Pitt (Charlie Hambley) finds Josh's fingerprint on the knife that killed Clint, it all comes crashing down, and Josh tells Kat the truth about why he left.

11 years ago, on the night of Clint's death, Kat's friend Aqua Vanech (Mary Malone), saw a heated exchange between the police officer and Parker, which made it clear they were together. In his desperation to keep his secret, Clint attacked Aqua at her home while berating her for being able to live as her true self as a transgender woman.

Josh happened to arrive at Aqua's home while Clint threatened her with a knife and stepped in to defend his friend. In the ensuing struggle, Josh accidentally stabbed Clint, killing him.

Then DCI Stagger (Richard Armitage) arrived. He covered up Clint's death — including paying off hitman Monte Leburne (Marc Warren) — to hide Clint's corruption and protect his family.

The guilt Josh felt led him to leave Kat.

"Missing You" ends on an emotional cliffhanger, as it's clear that Kat and Josh aren't sure whether their relationship can continue now that she knows he killed her father.

• Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, and Costco plan to open new stores in 2025.
• New store openings are planned in over 10 states, including California, Texas, and Michigan.
• Walmart told Business Insider it plans to open six Supercenters and three Neighborhood Markets.

Some of America's favorite grocery store chains could open up stores near you in 2025.

Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, and Costco have all announced several new stores they expect to open in the new year across more than 10 states.

Here's the full list.

Walmart

Walmart has more than 4,600 locations in the US and plans to open nine new stores in 2025 and one Sam's Club, which Walmart also owns. Walmart told Business Insider it plans to open in the following locations in 2025:

Walmart Supercenters

• Mountain View, California
• Eastvale, California
• Cypress, Texas
• Frisco, Texas
• Melissa, Texas
• Celina, Texas

Walmart Neighborhood Markets

• Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Milton, Florida
• Pace, Florida

Sam's Club

• Tempe, Arizona

Target

With 1,963 locations in the US, Target says most American households are located within 10 miles from at least one of its stores. Still, the grocery giant plans to open more than 30 new locations. A Target spokesperson said the company could not confirm when those stores were expected to open, but at least three are expected to open in 2025, according to the hiring page on the company's website. Those three are located in:

• South Lake Tahoe, California
• Surprise, Arizona
• Denton, Texas

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's, which has hundreds of locations around the US, said it expects dozens more to open in 2025. The company's website lists 12 new locations expected to open soon, though it does not specify an exact date. The locations include:

• Northridge, California
• Sherman Oaks, California
• Tarzana, California
• Seattle, Washington
• Bellingham, Washington
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
• Berwyn, Pennslyvania
• Staten Island, New York
• Hoover, Alabama
• Two locations in Washington, DC
• Rockville, Maryland

Costco

As of November 2024, Costco had 896 locations worldwide, with 616 in the US. The wholesale warehouse giant has said it plans to open about 30 new locations in 2025, with six set to open in March. The locations set to open in March are:

• Brentwood, California
• Genesee County, Michigan
• Highland, California
• Prosper, Texas
• Sharon, Massachusetts
• Weatherford, Texas

• Steve Bannon advised Elon Musk to "study modern political history" amid the H-1B visa debate.
• Bannon said Musk should not "start lecturing people about the way things are gonna be."
• Musk recently faced MAGA criticism after he shared strong support for H-1B visas.

President-elect Donald Trump's former advisor, Steve Bannon, has some advice for Elon Musk — start studying.

"You need to study modern political history of the fights we've been through for twelve or fourteen years to get to this spot," Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast on Tuesday.

The remarks were made during a discussion about the H-1B visa, for which Musk has recently expressed support. While Bannon said Musk earned a seat at the table for investing in Trump's reelection and supporting the cause, he said he didn't agree with the Tesla CEO's stance on the H-1B visa.

"Don't come up and go to the pulpit in your first week here and start lecturing people about the way things are gonna be. If you're gonna do that," Bannon said, "we're gonna rip your face off."

Musk said on X that the US needs to attract foreign talent to remain globally competitive. He strongly supports H-1B visas, which he said were crucial to building "SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong."

While Trump stood behind Musk, his stance has been criticized by MAGA supporters who say employers are using H-1B visas and other legal immigration methods to take jobs from Americans and drive down wages.

Bannon was considered one of the most powerful figures in Trump's administration before he was ousted from the White House. He was later found in contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with the January 6 panel.

Bannon completed a four-month prison sentence in October. After his release, the former strategist said at a media conference that he was "empowered" by his sentence.

• Eight years ago, Debbie Welsch moved to Bali, Indonesia, after being laid off from her job in Los Angeles.
• Welsch wanted to escape the rat race and live a simple life where she'd be free from constantly thinking about money.
• Last year, her mother — now 81 — joined her in Bali. They live across the street from each other.

Debbie Welsch never thought she'd be retired and living in Bali, Indonesia, across the street from her mother.

Eight years ago, in 2018, Welsch was laid off from her dream job as an interior designer for a developer in Los Angeles. Although she managed to secure some contract work after — sometimes even making $100 an hour — she was always worried about not having enough money.

"Everything just seemed like I was not moving my life forward," Welsch, now 55, told Business Insider.

It reminded her of her struggles in 2012 when she was forced to shut down her home improvement business because of the financial crisis.

Back then, Welsch had to lease out her house because she couldn't afford her mortgage. She then started living in a room she rented from a friend.

Over the years, anxiety kept Welsch from moving back into her own home even as her financial situation improved.

This time, being laid off made her realize she had an unhealthy relationship with money, one in which she would always worry about not having enough.

Several hypnotherapy sessions helped her let go of her fears, but Welsch knew she needed a fresh start — away from the rat race — if she wanted to change her life.

The idea of leaving the US started to take root, and by the end of the year, Welsch had sold almost everything she owned to move to Bali.

Trading LA for Bali

Welsch had considered various locations before deciding on Bali.

"I actually looked at the Yucatán in South Mexico. I looked at Costa Rica, I looked at Tulum," she said, adding that none of the places appealed to her because "the vibe just wasn't there."

But Bali was different: Welsch had been there for vacation multiple times before, and she always loved the pace of life on the island.

"The vibe, the energy, the local Balinese culture is so soothing to me. I feel comfortable," Welsch said.

Before she made her decision, Welsch thought it'd be a good idea to visit a friend who was already living in Bali with her husband.

"I spent three weeks just trying to live as a resident versus a tourist, just to see where I would live, what I would do, all that kind of stuff," Welsch said.

Within six months of that trip, Welsch was back on the island — this time for good.

"When I came here, I felt safe, and I felt like it was where I needed to be, even if it was for a few years," she said.

House-hunting took a couple of months.

"I didn't need a big house or anything like that — the bigger the house, the more maintenance required," Welsch said. "I also wanted to be close by to the cafés and things like that."

Through word of mouth, she eventually found the perfect one-bedroom home in Seminyak, just an eight-minute walk to the beach.

Welsch's lease was for 10 years, and she preferred to keep the amount she spent on rent private.

With permission from her landlord, she was also able to renovate the villa.

"It was all just concrete — gray concrete floors, gray concrete walls. It was dingy. There were no windows in the back, and there was no breeze coming through," she said.

Welsch spent six months transforming the entire villa, adding new floor tiles, and even installing a new bathroom upstairs.

"It just needed a lot of work," she said.

Her mother followed in her footsteps

In February 2023, Welsch's mother, Linda Puzio, decided to join her in Bali.

Puzio — then 79 — had just been laid off from her job as a legal secretary in Palm Springs.

Even though her daughter had been trying to convince her to move for over a year, Puzio said she finally relented due to financial reasons.

"My boss retired, and I didn't have a job anymore. All I had was my Social Security to live on," Puzio, now 81, told BI. "I couldn't live in Palm Springs anymore. My rent was going to be $1,500 a month. My Social Security is $1,900 — that meant I had $400 for car insurance, gasoline, food, clothing, electricity, things like that."

It made more sense for her to move to Bali, where the cost of living was much lower.

Now, Puzio lives in a house across the street from her daughter, and the two of them get to spend quality time together.

"She's like my best friend. If anyone's going to hang out with me morning, noon, and night, it's her," Welsch said. "She's in her senior years and needs support, and I have the opportunity to help her with that, just making sure she's taken care of. But there's also a reciprocal thing. I have family here now, so it works well for us."

Living a simple island life

Welsch and her mother aren't alone in their decision to retire abroad.

With the rising cost of living, more and more Americans are being priced out of the US. A single person would need to earn more than $111,000 to live comfortably in LA, while the average household would need to save for 36 years to afford a typical home in LA.

In recent years, thanks to its relative affordability, Bali has become a popular place for people to live — especially digital nomads.

The cost of living — inclusive of rent — in Bali is 52% lower than in Los Angeles, per Numbeo, a platform that uses crowdsourced data to compare the cost of living in major cities across the world. A person would need around $2,400 in Bali to maintain the same standard of life that they can have with $5,000 in LA.

However, the influx of digital nomads has drawn the ire of some, who accuse them of gentrifying the island and driving up the cost of living over the years.

As much as Welsch appreciates her life in Bali, there are still things that she misses about LA.

"In LA, I had a lot of friends, and there's always an art gallery to go to or just a gathering with my friends and sleepovers — all that stuff. I miss the connection with my friends there," Welsch said. "Even if you have friends here, you're still living an independent life."

She also misses her other family members — like her brother and nephews — and some of the beaches in LA.

However, Welsch doesn't think that she'd go back to living there, although her mother feels differently.

"I'll go back in a heartbeat, because why? It is OK here and all, but I moved here when I was 79. I really kind of am set in my own ways, in what I want and what I like. I'm used to certain things, and I miss them," Puzio said.

However, both of them are happy where they are. Living a simple life in Bali has allowed Welsch to stay present instead of constantly worrying about money like she used to.

"I can just be, instead of waking up and going, 'OK, how am I going to make money or what's the money situation in my life?' Money is the first thing I'd think of when I wake up, and money's the last thing I'd think of when I go to sleep. It's not like that anymore," Welsch said.

These days, she doesn't feel the need to keep up with the Joneses either.

"I'm satisfied with a basic life, not being fancy, dressing up, going out, looking a certain way, having a certain car," Welsch said. "We don't have to worry what people think."

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Kelly Benthall, 53, and her husband decided they wanted to retire early and travel the world.
• Part of the couple's plan for early retirement was not to leave an inheritance for their six kids.
• They've been traveling across Europe and Africa since August and are happy with the decision.

When I was in my 40s, if you had told me I'd be writing this from Mauritius after months of traveling across Europe, I would have laughed.

Back then, I had a more traditional view of retirement: I would work until 65, leave a nest egg for my kids, and settle into a quieter life.

But at 53, my husband, Nigel, and I quit our jobs in oil and gas, traded comfort for adventure, and hit the road.

To retire early and travel, we restructured our finances and mapped out a plan to spend every penny. Deciding not to leave an inheritance for our six kids was a crucial part of the plan.

We invested in their first 25 years, giving each of them a strong foundation to build their own futures.

Building confidence

We didn't want to tap into our retirement accounts, fearing early-withdrawal penalties, so we simplified our lifestyle.

We got engaged in 2017, shortly after Hurricane Harvey destroyed Nigel's house. He moved in with me, we married, and instead of upgrading to a bigger home, we agreed to make mine work. During COVID, we sold our second car and learned to share one.

We also paid off credit-card debt and committed to settling all bills in full every month. These choices made a difference, but we still needed help.

To turn our dream into reality, we hired a financial advisor who helped us devise a plan we could trust. Together, we grew our fixed-income resources for easy access, crafted a strategy to fully spend our savings during our lifetime, and transitioned to having our accounts managed by our advisor with asset-based fees. It helped us stop worrying about outliving our money.

Budgeting for life on the move

Now, our goal is to spend 20% less than we did during the last five years of work, gradually scaling back as we age and slow down. Careful budgeting and travel hacks have been helping.

Before leaving Texas in August, we had been living in Houston, where we still own a home. The choice between renting and selling felt too overwhelming before we left, so when we started our adventure in August, we held off on that decision. For now, it remains as we left it. The plan is to return in January to pack everything up and make those tough calls.

Instead, we kicked off the adventure by visiting family in England. Since then, we've had to rethink how we travel, prioritizing affordability without compromising our standards. This has influenced aspects such as where we stay and how we plan our itineraries.

For lodging, I use Airbnb and local real-estate agencies that offer discounts with a minimum stay of 30 days to cut down on costs. It gives us time to settle in and experience a place fully.

By following the sun during shoulder seasons, we've scored lower rates and balanced pricier destinations with more affordable ones. After England, we've established a rhythm we call "home bases" — places where we live like locals while exploring the area.

So far, we've spent a month in Dubrovnik, Croatia, with its stunning coastline; Lecce in Italy's Puglia region, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves; Seville, Spain, falling in love with Andalusia's laid-back charm; and now Mauritius, a small island nation just east of Madagascar where we're soaking up island vibes for the holidays.

Over the past five months, we've been spending an average of $6,000 a month, not including our house payment and related expenses back in Texas.

With slow travel, we shop at local markets, cook at home, and savor a relaxed pace.

Looking ahead

This journey isn't just about travel — it's about finding space to breathe. The endless US news cycle was wearing on me. Personally, I needed space to slow down. I keep up with international news, but the politics back home feel distant.

We don't know exactly where this journey will take us, and that's the beauty of it. With a long list of places to explore and regular trips home to see family, we may even find ourselves back where we started one day.

Our six children, who range in age from 23 to 37 and are spread across California, Utah, Texas, and England, were excited for us but also a little wistful when we set off. A few of them said it felt as if we were leaving for good — a shift that seemed more permanent, even though we'll see them just as often as when we lived in Houston.

Our plan to "spend it all" isn't about running out; it's about using what we have with the intention to explore, learn, and create memories we'll carry forever.

And for our kids? I hope we're showing them that there's no single way to live. Sometimes, you just have to leap and trust the net will appear — a reminder to live fully, in whatever way feels true to them.

Got a personal essay about retiring early to travel that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: [email protected].

• Yung-Yu Lin uses Google Search alerts to stay informed about company news before interviews.
• Sarra Bounouh suggests making separate lists of questions for the hiring manager and team leader.
• Anthony Mays advises creating unique project portfolios to stand out.

In his two-decade tech career, Yung-Yu Lin worked in Taiwan and the US, in hardware, software engineering, and product management roles.

Through career and company changes, preparing for interviews has been key, the senior product manager at Google told Business Insider.

"When you get to the interview, people always get nervous — it doesn't matter who you are," Lin said. "The only thing you can control is just trying to practice and get yourself a little bit more familiar with the interview process."

He and two other tech employees from Meta and Google shared their top tips to prepare before heading into an important Big Tech interview:

Mock interviews

Lin said that one of his top strategies is to do mock interviews with peers.

He uses career-building platforms such as IGotAnOffer, where people role-play interviews with people working or applying to the same companies.

"I scheduled four different mock interviews with other candidates also trying to apply for jobs at Google," Lin said.

Lin said it was helpful because he not only got a second opinion on his own answers, but also learned from his partner.

Subscribe to company news

To have a good discussion, and to be able to ask informed questions at the end of his interviews, Lin said he sets up Google Search alerts for the company at which he is interviewing.

"Before the interview, I would take a look at whatever happening in the past week and if there is any significant or big change, I ask interviewers or ask recruiters what does that mean for the company or for the industry," he said.

That shows you are interested in both the company and trends in the domain, Lin added.

Plan a list of questions

Sarra Bonouh, a product manager at Meta who has worked at Accenture, Microsoft, and Snap, said that she prepares a list of questions to ask at the end of the interview.

Her questions change based on whether the interviewer is in a leadership position or a hiring manager.

For a leader:

• What is the strategy of the team and the company? How do this team's objectives and key results fit into the overall mission and strategy of the company?
• What do you have in mind for the team in the next six months and the next 12 months?
• What would make the person in the role that you're hiring for stand out?

For a hiring manager:

• Who are the people someone in this role will be working closely with?
• What does success mean for this role?
• Tell me about a project the team worked on recently and the impact it had?

"I like this question a lot because it helps me evaluate the scope of work that the team has," she said about the last question. "This one I ask actually to all of the hiring managers."

Prepare a portfolio

Anthony D. Mays, who worked at Google for eight years before becoming a tech career consultant in 2022, said that it's key to prepare a portfolio that stands out.

He said there's a big influx of talent coming from coding boot camps, where everyone is given an identical project template. "I can see that you didn't actually put in the effort to make something of your own."

He suggests creating a portfolio of coding projects on Github or other platforms that emulate what the role entails in real life and talking about them in interviews.

"Pretend that you're working for a real company with a team of other engineers," he said. "Nowadays, I encourage my clients to build portfolio projects in pairs or with a team of other people, and to think about how you build within a team, because that is the thing that hiring managers and recruiters are looking for."

• Ryan Pamplin moved to Puerto Rico four years ago for the entrepreneurial scene.
• He and his family love the island, but he's frustrated with its ailing power infrastructure.
• A massive blackout plunged the island into darkness on Tuesday, and it could take days to restore.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ryan Pamplin, a 36-year-old who moved to Puerto Rico from the mainland US four years ago. Pamplin is the founder and CEO of BlendJet, a brand of portable blenders sold online and in more than 30,000 retail stores in 40 countries. He lives in Dorado with his wife and infant.

Pamplin was affected by Tuesday's near-total blackout in Puerto Rico, which left millions of residents across the island without power. Officials have said it could take days to restore service.

In recent years, Puerto Rico has seen a rise in entrepreneurs moving there. Government incentives like tax breaks — combined with the draw of an island lifestyle — have made it an attractive place for startups and new businesses.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm originally from Santa Monica, California, and then I moved a couple different times. I lived in New York, I lived in Florida, and most recently in the San Francisco Bay area.

And then about four years ago, a good friend of mine who's a really successful entrepreneur just said, "Hey, you got to check out Puerto Rico. There's something really interesting happening here. There's a lot of entrepreneurs moving there."

And I ended up talking to 30 different people — on Zoom, during COVID — who have moved here. Then I planned a whole trip to Puerto Rico with my cofounder and our wives, and we fell in love with it.

We met locals, we met people who had relocated here, and we just felt like, "Wow, what a cool place to go during Covid." And then we just never left. We ended up having our son here and built a house here.

We are in Dorado, which is about 30 minutes to the west of San Juan, and there's a really big community of people who have relocated from the mainland, a lot of entrepreneurs. It's a good mixture of us and locals all mixed together. I have a son who's 19 months old, and there are just tons of other kids to play with all the time. You see kids ride around on bikes by themselves. It's really safe.

The community is amazing and it's a great place to live — aside from the infrastructure.

I've never been anywhere in the world where people are so passionate about electricity that they protest in the streets about it.

When we moved here, there would be people driving tons of cars, just like a parade, with all kinds of megaphones and noisemakers and honking to protest the power company because it's really unreliable and it's expensive. That's happened many times since we've lived here.

People are mad because they keep increasing the rates but the service doesn't improve.

Backup power is a necessity — if you can swing it

You need backup energy in Puerto Rico because we have outages constantly, so I have four portable power stations and two backup batteries. In a two-week period recently, we experienced 14 outages. Most of the time it's an entire city or multiple cities. Sometimes the outages are short, but generally they last five-plus hours, and sometimes they last 18 to 24 hours.

That's a problem for so many people, and for restaurants and local businesses, because the food in their fridge goes bad. And ice sells out super quickly.

And it's not just power loss. Sometimes you get weird voltage drops, so then it fries all your electronics. You might not even be able to get it fixed, you just have to buy a new one. That happens so frequently. It's happened to me. It's happened to all my friends.

And then the gas generators break too. These generators are terrible environmentally — they're burning all this fuel, and they're super inefficient. It's terrible for the air quality surrounding your home.

The really difficult thing is it's really hot here all the time so not having AC could be deadly.

I don't have enough battery backup for the ACs, so when the power goes off, I usually wake up in the middle of the night because I get hot. And then I put a fan next to our bed. Then we sneak into the baby's room, trying not wake him up, and put a fan next to his bed. If we don't, he can't sleep at all without a fan.

Tuesday's power outage is definitely the worst that I've seen in four years of living here. That's because it's not isolated to one city or one area. It's the entire island.

I don't know a single person that has power right now. The only people that have power are people that have generators or they have powerwalls.

I've also never seen the water pressure drop so low. Right now, my water pressure is so bad, not just because my pump is off, but whatever pumps happen at the water company, those pumps aren't working. So if I turn on my faucet, no water comes out.

It's crazy to live in a place that's part of the United States that just has an unbelievably unreliable grid.

You have a lot of really talented people who come here, or are born here, or live here that are just incredibly frustrated because of such a basic thing as not having reliable power. And then they leave, and that hurts the economy.

Making the most of a New Year's Eve with no power

As for New Year's Eve on Tuesday, the power outage will probably inspire everyone to go stand in the street at midnight instead of standing in their homes. People are probably more likely to turn it into a block party and have a really good time.

I'm sure we're going to see all the stars and we're going to see the fireworks.

It'll be beautiful.

(Luma, the privately owned power provider, hasn't responded to a request for comment from Business Insider. The company earlier said in a statement that it's working to track down the source of the outage. "We understand the deep frustration that the power outage situation on a day like today is causing our customers and families in the country," the company said in a translated statement on X.)

• "Squid Game" season 2 broke records with its premiere in December.
• New shows like "The Perfect Couple" and "Nobody Wants This" were also among Netflix's biggest hits in 2024.
• Only one non-fiction title made the list: the true-crime docuseries "American Nightmare."

Netflix has been dominating the streaming game in 2024 and wrapped up the year with a record-breaking hit.

Its latest premiere, "Squid Game" season 2, just broke the record for most views during its first week of release than any other series in the streamer's history. That record was previously held by "Wednesday" season 1, which skyrocketed to success in 2022.

Even before the highly anticipated premiere of "Squid Game," the streamer had plenty of instant hits this year across genres including romance, drama, comedy, true crime, mystery, and thriller.

Samba TV, a tech company that gathers viewership data from customers with Samba TV-enabled smart TVs, provided Business Insider with a list of the most-watched Netflix premieres in 2024, looking at what shows had the most households viewing them within the first four days of release.

Check out the full list, from least to most-watched, below.

Note: Numbers below only include data collected from Samba TV-enabled devices. Actual viewership totals are much higher.

"Nobody Wants This," season 1

Viewership: 1,087,328 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Nobody Wants This" within the first four days of its premiere

The sizzling chemistry between Adam Brody and Kristen Bell took over social media and led to a major influx of viewers heading to the streamer for some good old-fashioned romantic angst.

Netflix ordered a second season weeks after the premiere, and it's expected to film in 2025.

"Avatar: The Last Airbender," season 1

Viewership: 1,122,268 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Avatar: The Last Airbender" within the first four days of its premiere

The latest live-action adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon got middling reviews from critics, but the popularity of its IP trumped any issues with quality.

Fans turned out to watch Netflix's take on "Avatar: The Last Airbender," leading to a quick season 2 renewal.

"Fool Me Once"

Samba viewership: 1,252,392 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Fool Me Once" within the first four days of its premiere

"Fool Me Once" is the latest in Netflix's ongoing partnership with bestselling author Harlan Coben to adapt his popular novels.

It quickly topped charts upon its release on the first day of 2024, and currently sits at No. 8 on Netflix's list of the top 10 most popular shows of all time with 98.2 million views to date.

The success of the mystery thriller, about a woman investigating the apparent reappearance of her dead husband, bodes well for the success of the upcoming series "Missing You," another Coben adaptation coming in January 2025.

"Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story"

Viewership: 1,282,179 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" within the first four days of its premiere

It's no surprise Ryan Murphy's latest based-on-a-true-story drama was a mega-hit for the streamer. Despite (or maybe thanks to) backlash and criticism from the real-life Menendez brothers, "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" was prime watercooler entertainment when it premiered in September.

The show follows in the footsteps of the crime anthology series' also-controversial first season, "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story", which still sits at the No. 3 spot on Netflix's list of most-watched series ever.

A third season, starring Charlie Hunnam as the serial killer Ed Gein, is coming to the streamer.

"No Good Deed"

Viewership: 1,340,483 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "No Good Deed" within the first four days of its premiere

Sheer star power may have been enough to drive eyes to "No Good Deed" earlier this month.

The mystery about a couple trying to sell their home after a tragedy, from "Dead to Me" creator Liz Feldman, featured a stacked ensemble cast from Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano to Luke Wilson and Linda Cardellini.

Interestingly, there's no word yet on whether Netflix is granting it a second season.

"American Nightmare"

Viewership: 1,490,545 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "American Nightmare" within the first four days of its premiere

The horrifying story at the center of "American Nightmare" captivated true-crime fans.

Denise Huskins' boyfriend reported her kidnapping, telling police he'd been bound by an intruder who took Huskins.

When Huskins turned up not long after, authorities became convinced she'd staged the abduction herself — a real-life "Gone Girl" case.

Huskins was later vindicated when the real kidnapper, Matthew Muller, was found and arrested.

"Griselda"

Viewership: 1,721,965 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Griselda" within the first four days of its premiere

Netflix's streak of based-on-a-true-story dramas started off strong in 2024 with the premiere of "Griselda," starring Sofia Vergara as the titular Colombian drug lord.

Despite an initial legal scuff-up with the real Griselda Blanco's sole surviving son (later settled in court), the show was a big hit as viewers turned out in droves to watch Vergara utterly vanish into the role, prosthetics and all.

"Bridgerton," season 3

Viewership: 1,958,636 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Bridgerton" season 3 within the first four days of its premiere

"Bridgerton" season 3 might have angered some fans who took issue with the way Penelope and Colin's long-awaited romance played out onscreen (and a significant change to a newly introduced character from the books who will be prominent in a later season), but that anger didn't stop them from gobbling it all up after the premiere.

The third installment ranks No. 6 on Netflix's most popular shows list, with 106 million views to date (besting Kanthony's season 2 total of 93.8 million but falling short of season one's 113.3 million views).

Season four is already coming, this time focusing on second-eldest brother Benedict Bridgerton.

"The Perfect Couple"

Viewership: 2,151,316 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "The Perfect Couple" within the first four days of its premiere

"The Perfect Couple" didn't exactly premiere to critical acclaim, but it still managed to rope in viewers.

Some of them may have been fans of the original Elin Hilderbrand book it was based on, though plenty probably tuned in just to see Nicole Kidman's latest wig. In any event, the by-the-numbers mystery thriller proved to be a hit.

"Squid Game," season 2

Viewership: 2,237,637 total households opted-in to Samba TV watched "Squid Game" season 2 within the first four days of its premiere

In a surprise to absolutely no one, the long-awaited return of "Squid Game" tops the list of biggest Netflix premieres this year. It even broke records with its debut. According to the streamer, the Korean series raked in 68 million views in the few days since its premiere on December 26, toppling the record for most views for a show in its premiere week previously set by "Wednesday" season 1 in 2022 (50.1 million views).

That number also puts it at No. 7 on Netflix's most popular non-English shows of all time (a list where "Squid Game" season 1 still leads by a wide margin with 265.2 million views). It's also the quickest a show has ever broken the most popular list.

The good news is that fans won't need to wait long for its conclusion, as the thriller is already set for a season three return in 2025.

• Most Americans see economic difficulty as the reality for 2025, according to a new Gallup poll.
• Republicans have a much rosier view of the US economy headed into the new year.
• Nearly eight-in-ten Republicans (78%) believe 2025 will be a year of economic prosperity in the US.

Most Americans are predicting economic difficulty and international discord in 2025, but Republicans are expressing broad economic enthusiasm weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to begin his second term, according to a new Gallup survey.

In the new poll, 56 percent of respondents said they believed that the coming year would bring economic difficulty, while 44 percent felt it would bring prosperity. And regarding international conflicts, roughly two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents foresee a year of political conflict, versus the 32 percent of respondents who see 2025 as a more peaceful year.

A majority of Republicans, buoyed by Trump's victory and the conservative agenda that'll be pursed by the forthcoming GOP-controlled Congress, had positive sentiments on virtually every economic and foreign policy topic.

Nearly eight-in-ten Republicans (78%) polled believe that 2025 will be a year of economic prosperity in the US, compared to 40% of independents and 15% of Democrats. And 63% of Republicans believe that 2025 will be a largely peaceful year on the international front, compared to only 28% of independents and a scant 8% of Democrats.

On other economic issues, Republicans are energized.

Among GOP respondents, 88% believe the stock market will climb in the new year, compared to 65% of independents and 46% of Democrats. (Overall 66% of respondents believe the stock market will rise in 2025, compared to 33% who believe it will decline.)

And 87% of Republicans believe prices will increase more reasonably in 2025, compared to 46% of independents and 23% of Democrats who share a similar view.

In 2024 — under President Joe Biden's tenure in office — the S&P 500 rose 23.3% percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had a nearly 13% gain in 2024.

The November election was defined by the state of the economy, with Trump making inroads with broad swaths of voters over inflation and affordability concerns.

Biden last summer stepped aside as the Democratic presidential nominee in part because a poor debate performance against Trump, but one of the president's biggest challenges was his difficulty in selling his economic agenda to an American public that endured noticeable price increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, she sought to orient her campaign around economic concerns, laying out proposals to provide tax deductions for small businesses and offer $25,000 in down-payment support for some first-time homebuyers. She fell short in the swing states — notably in the "blue wall" — as Trump retained an advantage on economic issues throughout the campaign.

With Trump returning to the White House, Republicans — who were largely pessimistic about the economy under Biden — are now much more jubilant about what 2025 will offer.

The Gallup survey was conducted from December 4-15 among 2,121 adults.

• In the US, a popular way to celebrate New Year's Eve is to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
• The tradition started in 1907, when the ball was made of iron and wood.
• After multiple redesigns, today's ball weighs 11,875 pounds and features 2,688 crystal panels.

2024 is coming to a close. So, as we reflect on all this year had to offer — the Paris Olympics, "Cowboy Carter," and "Wicked" may come to mind — it's time to ring in 2025 with a bit of fun.

Different countries are known for their own unique traditions to celebrate and bring good energy into the new year. In Denmark, for example, people celebrate New Year's Eve by breaking plates. Meanwhile, in Italy, it's tradition to wear red underwear. And of course, in the US, it's common to watch the Times Square ball drop.

The ball drop has been a New York City tradition for over a century, symbolizing new beginnings. But the ball itself has changed drastically since its original debut in 1907; then, it was crafted from iron and wood, measured 5 feet in diameter, and weighed 700 pounds, according to Times Square's website.

In contrast, today's ball is made with crystal, measures 12 feet in diameter, weighs 11,875 pounds, and is lit by more than 30,000 LEDs.

Whether you're one of the brave people who have traveled to New York City to watch the ball drop live, or you're planning to watch it from the comfort of your couch, here's a look back at how the tradition started and the Times Square ball's 117-year history.

Before the Times Square ball was invented, people would gather downtown at Trinity Church to hear the bells chime.

Before the ball's invention, people in New York City would gather outside Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan to hear the bells chime at midnight, PBS reported.

But after The New York Times moved offices to Midtown's Longacre Square — promptly renamed Times Square — in the early 1900s, the company started a midnight firework display to encourage people to celebrate farther north.

The fireworks were later banned by the city's police department, so Adolph Ochs, then-owner and publisher of The New York Times, commissioned the company's chief electrician, Walter Palmer, "to find a new light display," PBS reported.

The first Times Square ball dropped in 1907 to ring in 1908 and was made of iron and wood.

Palmer was inspired by a 19th-century maritime method of timekeeping, which involved dropping a ball at a certain time to help mariners ensure their timepieces were accurate, PBS reported.

The first Times Square New Year's Eve ball was built by Jacob Starr, an immigrant metalworker. It weighed 700 pounds, measured 5 feet in diameter, and featured 100 light bulbs.

Artkraft Strauss, Starr's company, was in charge of lowering the ball at midnight with an elaborate pulley system. When it dropped for the first time to ring in 1908, it started a tradition that remains more than 100 years later.

In 1920, the ball was redesigned and made of wrought iron.

Midway through the '20s, a less heavy ball replaced the original iron and wood one.

The new ball weighed 400 pounds and was made of wrought iron, per Times Square's website.

In 1942 and 1943, no ball was dropped in Times Square due to World War II.

1942 and 1943 are the only years to date that the Times Square ball was not dropped to ring in the new year.

At the time, the US was engaged in World War II and New York City participated in a dim-out to protect the city from attacks, according to the Museum of the City of New York.

The dim-out didn't keep crowds away, though, on New Year's Eve, people still gathered in Times Square.

In 1955, the ball was recreated and made entirely of aluminum.

The new ball was made of aluminum and only weighed 150 pounds, which is the lightest it's ever been.

It was used until 1980, as seen in the photo above, behind Russ Brown, then-superintendent of One Times Square.

From 1981 to 1988, the aluminum ball was transformed into an apple.

From 1981 to 1988, the Times Square ball was transformed into the "Big Apple Ball," complete with red light bulbs and a green stem to resemble an apple for the "I Love New York" marketing campaign, according to Times Square's website.

When the campaign ended, the ball returned to its white light bulbs along with a few upgrades.

The traditional aluminum ball returned in 1989 and was upgraded in 1995 to include aluminum skin, rhinestones, and strobes.

But perhaps the most important upgrade was the addition of computer controls that lowered the ball at midnight.

The aluminum ball dropped for the last time in 1998.

Ahead of the year 2000, the Times Square ball was completely transformed and redesigned using crystal.

To celebrate the turn of the millennium, the ball was redesigned by Waterford Crystal.

Each year, some of the 2,688 crystal panels are replaced; these new panels are designed and hand crafted to reflect a theme, Reuters reported in 2022.

For the ball's 100-year anniversary in 2007, it was upgraded with LEDs.

In 2017, the 2007 ball — known as the Centennial Ball — was displayed at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Times Square.

At the time, Stacy Shuster, then-director of marketing and sales at Ripley's New York, told Untapped New York that the 2007 ball featured 672 Waterford crystal triangles and 9,576 Philips Luxeon LEDs.

In 2008, the "Big Ball" was created to sit permanently atop One Times Square.

The ball can be seen on display year-round, just like it was here in July 2020.

2020's New Year's Eve ball was another showstopper despite the major changes to the tradition.

In 2020, Times Square was closed to the public on New Year's Eve due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the ball was still the star of the show.

The ball weighed 11,875 pounds and was 12 feet in diameter. As well as the usual 2,688 Waterford Crystals, it had 32,256 LED lights and displayed 16 million vibrant colors.

2021's ball drop was also scaled back, only allowing 15,000 spectators in comparison to its usual 58,000 people, and in-person viewers were required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination.

The ball was updated as a part of Waterford's "Gift of Wisdom" design for 2022.

Ahead of 2023, new crystals were added and COVID-related restrictions were dropped.

Nearly 200 new Waterford crystals were installed on the ball ahead of 2023's arrival with the theme, the "Gift of Love," Reuters reported. The crystals feature circles of intertwining love hearts.

And ahead of 2024, the ball was given a "new bow tie lighting pattern" in honor of Times Square's former nickname as "the bow tie," CBS reported.

Now, the Times Square ball will complete its final drop before being replaced in 2025.

This year's ball includes crystal triangles with two new designs, according to Times Square 2025 organizers: the "One Times Square" crystal design and the "Ever" crystal design.

The One Times Square design "features long linear cuts with a circle near the top" to represent the pole and building where the ball drop takes place.

Meanwhile, the Ever design "consists of three pairs of interlocking rings surrounded by diamond facets that provide the setting for the letter E" in honor of One Times Square becoming a new destination for vow ceremonies in 2025, according to organizers.

Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown (which owns One Times Square), told CBS that the current ball "will go onto the lower floors of the building as part of an immersive arts and culture exhibit" and that the new iteration will be "much more digitally interactive."

• Donald Trump recently appointed Sriram Krishnan to an AI advisory role.
• Krishnan came to the US from India in 2007 and became a US citizen in 2016.
• Indian tech workers initially praised his appointment, but have grown concerned by MAGA criticism.

Anuj Christian's green card was approved in 2019, a decade after he first came to the US as a graduate student from India. Since then, he's been waiting to receive it, one of thousands trapped in a lengthy backlog created by America's byzantine immigration system.

Earlier this month, Christian was hopeful for the first time in years. Just before Christmas, Donald Trump announced that Sriram Krishnan, a first-generation Indian American, would serve as a senior White House policy advisor for AI. Krishnan is set to work closely with Trump's new "crypto czar" David Sacks, an early investor in Facebook, SpaceX, Uber, and Palantir.

For Christian, Krishnan's appointment felt personal. "Sriram has personally been through the immigration system," said Christian, who runs an immigration reform group called FAIR. "Someone who has personally been through this issue is close to the president now. That has never happened before."

From Chennai to Silicon Valley

Krishnan arrived in the US in 2007 from Chennai, India, to begin a six-year stint at Microsoft. From there, he climbed the ranks of Silicon Valley, holding senior roles at Yahoo, Snap, Facebook, and Twitter. In 2020, he moved to venture capital, becoming a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz.

Along the way, Krishnan became a US citizen in 2016, a milestone that eludes many legal immigrants from India. The green card backlog, a byproduct of per-country caps on employment-based permanent US residency, has left thousands of skilled workers from India in limbo. Wait times can now exceed beyond a lifetime.

Krishnan's appointment comes with a unique resonance for those impacted by this system. He has spoken openly about the challenges of navigating US immigration and has advocated for raising the country-based green card caps. These calls for reform have been a recurring theme of The Aarthi and Sriram Show, a podcast he hosts with his tech entrepreneur wife Aarthi Ramamurthy.

MAGA backlash

Krishnan's visibility and advocacy have turned him into a lightning rod for MAGA followers, though. In the days since Trump's announcement, the technologist has faced hate speech and racism directed not just at him but also at Indians and legal immigration in general. Krishnan declined to comment.

The backlash began with a tweet from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who criticized his appointment as "deeply disturbing" and said it conflicted with Trump's "America First" agenda.

Loomer accused Krishnan of advocating to "remove all restrictions on green card caps" and enabling foreign workers to take jobs from American STEM graduates, citing Silicon Valley's reliance on international talent as a threat to domestic innovation. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was Trump's initial pick for attorney general, accused "tech bros" of engineering "an immigration policy."

H-1B visa debate

Rahul Menon, an Indian-born engineer from Rhode Island and host of Area51, a podcast about immigration, believes hate speech directed at Krishnan reflects broader misconceptions about skilled immigrants in the US.

"They just assume we are here to steal everyone's jobs," Menon told Business Insider. "If people understood the process of getting through an H-1B and the number of hoops you need to jump through, it's insane. The hate that Sriram is getting is just the beginning. You just need a thick skin to do the job."

Some of the scorn has been directed at H-1Bs, a common visa type that Silicon Valley companies and tech outsourcing firms use to hire foreign workers in the US. This particular system is also overwhelmed by huge volumes of applications for a limited number of slots each year. Bloomberg News uncovered a scheme earlier this year, known as "multiple registration," that manipulates the H-1B program and prevents what it described as legitimate talent from accessing these skilled-worker visa-based opportunities.

Recent optimism

Menon noted that optimism around addressing the green card backlog has been steadily growing, fueled by statements from high-profile figures. During a June appearance on the All-In Podcast hosted by VCs including Sacks, Trump expressed support for granting green cards to all US college graduates. Trump also recently voiced support for H-1B visas.

Menon sees Krishnan's appointment as the latest in a series of developments boosting morale among advocates for US immigration reform.

"It started with Trump saying that, then with Vivek, and now with Sriram — it's the cherry on top," Menon said, referring to Vivek Ramaswamy, another Trump advisor whose parents immigrated from Kerala, India. Ramaswamy has repeatedly called for the H-1B lottery system to be replaced with a selection process based on merit.

"AI stands for artificial intelligence, not American Indian"

Others remain skeptical about Krishnan's ability to influence immigration policy in his new role.

Sacks addressed the speculation directly in a tweet: "Sriram has been a US citizen for a decade. He's not 'running America.' He's advising on AI policy. He will have no influence over US immigration policy." The post appeared aimed at calming criticism from MAGA loyalists and quelling hope among some Indian immigrants that Krishnan's appointment would lead to immediate changes.

Ash Arora, a partner at VC firm LocalGlobe, and a friend of Krishnan and his wife, Ramamurthy, cautioned against reading too much into Krishnan's role when it comes to immigration reform.

"Sriram has been hired for AI — and AI stands for artificial intelligence, not American Indian," she told Business Insider. "I'm not sure whether Sriram will have a say in immigration matters, but the optimism about legal immigration being fixed, in my opinion, is misguided."

Ultimately, Krishnan is an AI policy advisor, Area51's Menon said. "I'd like to hope things will change. But let's not count our chickens before they've hatched."

• Turkey offered to rebuild Syria's demolished military.
• It's an opening to grow its influence with its southern neighbor and counter Iran.
• "Turkey will likely try to fill Russia's role," a Middle East analyst told BI.

Turkey offered to help rebuild the Syrian military shattered by the fall of the long-ruling Assad regime and Israeli airstrikes, potentially filling a void left by Russia's diminishing forces.

Limited Turkish arms are inroads to bolstering the victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamist movement in Syria, but Turkey will likely need financial support to pay for more extensive military rebuilding that could allow it to become the dominant foreign power in Syria, regional experts said.

"Turkey will likely try to fill Russia's role, including in relation to Israel," said Aron Lund, a fellow with Century International and a Middle East analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Agency. "A Turkish contingent in the Golan Heights, or even just a military liaison of some sort, could back up UN missions and serve as a buffer and facilitator between Israeli and Syrian leaders."

"It's exactly the kind of role Turkey would want. It would institutionalize Ankara's role not just in Syria, but in Arab-Israeli peacemaking."

Russia and the former Soviet Union were long the leading suppliers of military hardware to Syria under the rule of recently deposed President Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez, who died in 2000. Much of the former regime's remaining military stockpiles were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in December.

"While Turkey may play an important role in providing military hardware, it is unlikely to fully become the primary supplier of the new Syrian Army," Suleyman Ozeren, a lecturer at the American University and senior fellow at the Orion Policy Institute, told Business Insider.

"With Western reluctance to arm HTS's military and Turkey's limited capacity, Syria will likely need to diversify its sources of heavy weaponry, potentially increasing its dependence on Gulf Cooperation Council countries" — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These countries share an interest in countering Iran's influence.

HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa recently said it could take up to four years before holding elections. Turkey may have an opportunity to extend its influence in Syria by backing a viable government whose immediate needs are likely to center on guns, vehicles and drones to consolidate internal control.

"Syria is awash in arms, ministries and state agencies are largely staffed by people appointed under Assad's rule, and there's no apparent economic base for any of this," Lund told BI. "So, I would caution that Syria's next government is still pretty much a hypothetical thing."

"The new government will need military support and equipment," Lund said. "The old military, or what was left of it, imploded when Assad's regime collapsed."

Turkey is well-positioned to fulfill the new regime's likely needs. In Libya, in the wake of the Gaddafi regime's 2011 collapse, it equipped the UN-recognized government in Tripoli with Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 drones and Kipri armored vehicles, replacing the former regime's destroyed arsenal. The TB2 drones played a decisive role in pushing back the militia forces of General Khalifa Haftar in 2020 after they had besieged Tripoli.

Building up a large conventional army to compete with foreign rivals will not likely be a priority for Damascus anytime soon, and a ground-up rebuilding will take years and large expenditures.

"The primary needs of Syria's next government won't be to wage major conventional wars. Rather, they'll need the kind of stuff that helps them overwhelm local rivals, keep order in the chaotic rural periphery, hunt down Islamic State remnants, and patrol the borders," Lund said.

Despite having the second-largest army in NATO and a formidable domestic arms industry, Turkey could still struggle to build a conventional Syrian military from the ground up.

"In so far as that can't already be found in Syria, Turkey seems well placed to provide it," Lund said. "The question, of course, is who would pay for it. Qatar might be willing to step in to fund some purchases."

Turkey could train Syria's new military, host its officers for military studies in Turkey, and eventually hold joint exercises that could pave the way for a deeper alliance, Lund said.

But standing up a military in a devastated country may prove more challenging than fueling an insurgency.

"Turkey will likely pursue defense and security agreements with Syria while carefully navigating its relationships with Arab states to avoid diplomatic isolation," Ozeren said. "However, creating an army is very much different than supporting or creating a proxy force which could risk long-term instability in the region."

"Ultimately, the question remains whether Turkey has the capacity to provide the necessary training and hardware to establish a fully functioning standard army in Syria," Ozeren added. "The experiences in Libya and with the [Syria National Army opposition group] do not provide a definitive answer to this challenge."

Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.