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Rep. Al Green removed after shouted protest during Trump’s speech : NPR

NPR
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Rep. Al Green removed after shouted protest during Trump’s speech : NPR


Rep. Al Greene, D-Texas, disrupts President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on March 4.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP


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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

NPR is bringing you the latest from President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. For more updates, get our NPR Politics newsletter or listen to The NPR Politics Podcast.

Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was removed from the House chamber after heckling President Trump during his first address to a joint session of Congress of his second term.

Though lawmakers in the opposition party have been vocal from their seats during past presidential addresses, Green’s removal from the chamber marked a stark break from tradition.

President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on March 4.

Green stood up and began yelling at Trump after the president referenced his 2024 election win and claimed he had been given a mandate from the American people. Green first received a warning from House Speaker Mike Johnson and when he did not stop was escorted out by the Sergeant at Arms.

The Texas Democrat repeatedly shouted that the president did not have a mandate.

“It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up [to Trump],” Green said to reporters outside the chamber.

President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on March 4.

Other lawmakers led quieter protests. A group of Democratic women wearing T-shirts reading “Resist” walked out of the president’s speech, as did other Democrats as the speech went on. Others waved black signs saying “False.”

Rep. Maxwell Frost was one of several members who left the chamber during Trump’s address. He wore a shirt that read, “No kings live here.”

“In the spirit of student protestors from the Civil Rights Movement, I’m proud to have protested and walked out with many of my colleagues,” Frost said in a post on social media. “This is NOT a normal time.”

Democrats are the minority party in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Many lawmakers have appeared at demonstrations in response to the Trump administration’s drastic changes to the federal government.



This story originally appeared on NPR

California Assembly speaker ousts some Republicans from committees

LATimes
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California Assembly speaker ousts some Republicans from committees

California Republican lawmakers remained miffed after a handful of them were abruptly kicked off pivotal legislative committees by Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.

Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) suggested the move could be “retaliation” against Republicans for opposing funding to “Trump-proof” the state and for criticizing Democrats’ handling of issues including insurance, wildfires, energy and the rising cost of living.

“This is the new doghouse move where if the Democratic leadership is upset with you, they make these kinds of changes,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher said he had a “good conversation” with Rivas after the announcement was made but received little explanation for the reshuffling. He said that some of the jabs Republican lawmakers dished out on social media also “may rub some people the wrong way.”

As speaker, Rivas has the power to appoint and remove members of committees at any time, and last week more than a dozen committee changes affected both Republicans and Democrats. Committee reassignments are commonplace in the Legislature, and politics can seep in. Democrats hold a legislative supermajority, giving the Republicans little political power.

“The Speaker routinely addresses committee needs throughout the year, and his goal is always to ensure members are in optimal roles to collaborate effectively and deliver for Californians,” said Nick Miller, Rivas’ communications director.

Among those removed were Assemblymembers Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) and Alexandra M. Macedo (R-Tulare), who were ousted from the Assembly’s budget committee, and Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin), who lost his position as vice chair of the Assembly’s health committee. Three Democrats also lost committee seats. Every committee still has a Republican vice chair.

DeMaio, who in recent weeks has been outspoken on social media platform X, where he has a substantial following, said Democratic leadership warned him to “dial it back” after a contentious budget hearing that he heavily publicized where he criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spending plan. DeMaio has also described the budget’s COVID-19 outreach program as “so 2020.”

Other Republicans removed included Assemblymembers Bill Essayli (R-Corona) and David J. Tangipa (R-Fresno). While some Republicans were removed from their positions, they were also appointed to new committees.

Macedo questioned the speaker’s motive behind removing her as a member of the budget committee. She was also replaced by another Republican as vice chair of the committee on governmental organization. Along with the removal, Macedo was appointed to replace Essayli as vice chair of the elections committee.

“I have worked hard to educate myself on the issues. … I don’t think the crime matches the punishment,” she said.

Patterson on Monday expressed his surprise at the reshuffle, which he learned about while at the gym. “As an elected official in the minority party, you should be expected to speak about what’s wrong with the actions of the majority,” he said.



This story originally appeared on LA Times

TKO President Mark Shapiro Believes There Is No Difference Between UFC Apex And Arena Shows

MMA Mania
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TKO President Mark Shapiro Believes There Is No Difference Between UFC Apex And Arena Shows


Tone deaf?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been in our lives for several years now. And it feels like every five to six months, UFC CEO, Dana White, or another top figure in the company will say, “there will be fewer Apex events” and “we’re getting back on the road again.”

To be fair, 14 of the first 20 UFC events in 2025 will be outside the Apex and in packed arenas.

But, President and COO of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO), Mark Shapiro, spoke at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference recently, revealing there is no difference between quiet Apex “Fight Night”-themed events and packed stadium shows.

“When it comes to UFC, our margin could be higher if we decided to do less international events,” Shapiro said. “Maybe even less domestic touring events and do them in the Apex arena in Las Vegas, where we own the arena, and when you are watching on TV, you can’t tell if you are in a stadium or in an arena or if you are at the small but mighty Apex that we have in Las Vegas.

“When you compare UFC to MLB, which has been around a 100 years when you compare it with NFL, which has been around for over 100 years, we have a long way to go here,” Shapiro added. “So, we have to balance reach, engagement, brand strength, with ‘dollars.’ Which, of course, most folks in this room are more focused on. But, we are playing a long game here.”

As someone who has been to every single Apex “Fight Night” since the middle of 2022, I can tell you from first-hand experience that there is a significant difference between that building and, say, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

It is night and day.

The Octagon looks the same, for the most part, but UFC cannot substitute a sold-out arena crowd of 18,000 with an Apex crowd of 500 people (sometimes just one!).

Indeed, UFC’s Apex cannot simply replace this:

To check out UFC’s upcoming event schedule click here.



This story originally appeared on MMA Mania

One charger for all your daily gear

AppleInsider
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One charger for all your daily gear


Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: A unique, stylish, and eco-friendly way to charge

The Nimble Valet 3-in-1 charger adds a bit of upscale touch to your counter or nightstand while charging your daily gear at the fastest possible wireless speeds.

We’ve tried our fair share of three-in-one chargers. While there are a lot of great ones, this model from Nimble adds additional functionality for users at a similar price point.

What we found especially impressive, is that it manages to have fast charging, premium materials — like a walnut wood frame, is very eco-friendly, and yet it isn’t priced any higher than other comparable chargers.

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Design

The Nimble Valet 3-in-1 wireless charger starts unassuming enough. It has a dark walnut exterior with what looks like a leather top surface.

But Nimble has always been focused on the environment. The leather is made from aloe cactus which is durable and eco-friendly.

It feels very nice and many would probably be tricked into thinking it was real leather upon feeling it.

A wooden charging station with two charging pads on a white shelf against a red brick wall.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: All the charging spots can fold flat, or flip up

There are a total of three chargers and the Qi2 pad and the Apple Watch puck are all outlined in brushed space grey metal. They’re also both adjustable.

The MagSafe-compatible Qi2 charger can lay flat, or raise up with adjustable angles. It can be a little hard to grip when flush, but the strength is needed to support various angles and heights.

A close-up of a sleek black and wood wireless charging station with a circular charging pad and an adjustable magnetic mount.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: The metal-encased Apple Watch puck rotates, depending on the band you use

For the Apple Watch puck, it too can lay flat or you can rotate it up. When pivoted up, it makes it easier for the watch to sit and can support Nightstand Mode.

The entire bottom of the valet is covered in rubber, hiding the plastic shell on the inside. Nimble says the plastic they do use, is 100 percent PCR.

There is a recessed hole in the bottom to route the charging cable, with two options available. The cable can go out the side or the back, depending on where you need to route it.

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Charging performance

Included with the Nimble valet charger is a braided USB-C to USB-C cable, as well as a 36W power adapter. That’s enough juice to charge all three chargers at maximum speed.

Smartwatch with an orange band displays time as 9:33 and date as Saturday 15 on a wooden surface.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: The Apple Watch puck supports fast charge on modern versions of Apple Watch

For Apple Watch, that means it supports fast charging. On Apple Watch Series 10, that’s 80% charge in only 30 minutes.

For Qi2, that is up to 15W of wireless power. Since that stand is adjustable, it can also go into StandBy mode while charging.

Digital clock on stand displaying time, next to orange speaker, smartwatch with orange band, white earbuds case, and an orange item, all against a red brick background.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: iPhone charging in StandBy mode

You can choose different widgets, a photo gallery, or just a bespoke clock. What you choose will depend on your uses and where you place it.

For us, we use StandBy mode at night and on our desk. By our bedside, we have the clock and our blood sugar readout, while on our desk we like to view the calendar.

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Building into your daily life

We’ve had a habit of trying to seek out smaller and more portable charges. Nimble went the opposite, instead opting to make something larger that has a larger purpose sitting on your counter.

A smartphone charging wirelessly on a pad, displaying 92% charge, next to wireless earbuds and an orange-banded smartwatch, with a smart speaker nearby.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Top down view of charging our iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch

It is only a few moments to swap out the tray we used to use in our kitchen for the Nimble valet instead. At the same time, we did opt for a different USB-C power supply, one that had an additional output that we could use to charge an iPad at the same time.

A charging station with an orange wallet, smartwatch, AirPods case, circular pad, and colorful pins, including 'Hair Force One' text.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: The valet has extra space for your wallet, cash, and more

The Nimble tray isn’t huge, but it’s enough for us to fit a pair of sunglasses, our wallet, and our keys. Our daily accessories.

It’s so convenient to have a place to keep our items and our AirPods are always charged.

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Should you buy it?

Nimble has checked a lot of boxes with its 3-in-1 valet-style charger. Eco-friendly, fast charging, premium materials, elegant design, and wholly unique.

There’s quite literally nothing else like this on the market. We’ve seen valet chargers, but they don’t have adjustable stands or use eco-friendly materials.

We’ve seen adjustable stands and 3-in-1 chargers, but they aren’t valets to hold your wallet and keys. And the only other walnut charger we’ve seen debuted back in 2019

Close-up of a wooden device corner on a white surface, featuring the logo 'nimble' with a running figure. Background is blurred with pink and blue hues.
Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: The body is made of a dark walnut wood

As an Apple Store exclusive, we probably shouldn’t have expected less. If you want a perfect common space, desk, or nightstand charger to also house your valuables, Nimble has you covered.

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Pros

  • Eco-friendly design through-and-through

  • Elegant wood and cactus-leather build

  • Charges three devices

  • Certifications for Qi2 and fast charge Apple Watch puck

  • Ample space for daily pocket accessories

  • Charger and cable included

  • Supports StandBy mode

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger review: Cons

  • Metal rim around Qi2 puck can be hard to grab

  • No additional USB outputs

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger rating: 5 out of 5

Nimble Valet 3-in-1 Wireless Charger: Where to buy

Pick up the Nimble Valley 3-in-1 wireless charger for $149.99 online, or your local Apple Store.



This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

Warning as fruit juice ‘can spark side effects’ from medicine

Express.co.uk
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Warning as fruit juice ‘can spark side effects’ from medicine


Certain medications for depression, high blood pressure, cholesterol and Crohn’s disease could be impacted by the consumption of grapefruit or its juice.

Despite being a good source of vitamin C, grapefruit can interfere with an essential enzyme that helps break down medications in the body.

This interference could lead to an excessive amount of the drug entering your bloodstream, potentially causing heightened or additional side effects.

The British Liver Trust has issued a warning: “When you have too much of the medicine in your body you are at risk of severe side effects. These could be very dangerous.”

On the other hand, grapefruit can also inhibit some transporters responsible for moving medications into the body’s cells where they perform their function, decreasing how effective these pills are. 

Furthermore, individual levels of the enzyme vary, meaning reactions to the same grapefruit and medication combination can differ from person to person.

The NHS specifically cautions those on two types of medication – statins, typically used for cholesterol, and sertraline, an antidepressant: “Grapefruit juice can affect some statins and increase your risk of side effects. A doctor may advise you to avoid it completely or only consume small quantities.”

When it comes to sertraline, the guidelines are straightforward: “Do not drink grapefruit juice while you’re taking this medicine. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of sertraline in your body and increase the risk of side effects.”

Grapefruit juice can be especially troublesome for certain medications, such as statins, where excessive consumption can lead to an overload of the drug in your system. This can put undue strain on your liver and kidneys, potentially increasing the risk of muscle damage or organ failure, warn experts at News Medical.

Regrettably, there’s no ‘safe window’ for consuming grapefruit or its juice before or after taking your medication. As explained by the British Liver Trust: “The effect of grapefruit on the enzyme can last more than 24 hours. So even if you only take your medicine once a day it is not safe to have grapefruit at the other end of the day.”

The FDA in America has an extended list of warnings about medications that could be affected by grapefruit juice.

This includes some prescribed drugs used to treat high blood pressure, organ-transplant rejection, anxiety, Crohn’s disease and even certain antihistamines for allergies. In the case of fexofenadine, better known as the allergy medication Allegra, grapefruit juice could reduce its effectiveness.

The FDA also noted that this medication interacts negatively with orange and apple juice.



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Save Time at Canadian Airport Security with Express

PrinceOfTravel
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Save Time at Canadian Airport Security with Express


With the busy spring break travel season just around the corner upon us, travellers should aim to save time at as many steps along the journey as possible.

In the recent past, some major Canadian airports made going through security a bit easier with the introduction of Express. With the service, passengers can pre-book a timeslot to go through security, which could wind up saving time that you’d otherwise have spent waiting in line.

It’s also a nice free alternative to NEXUS, and booking an appointment is fast and easy.

Express: Skip the Security Line by Booking in Advance

If you’re able to plan for your arrival at the airport, the Express program allows you to schedule a time to pass through security screening for departures from four Canadian airports. Unfortunately, the service is no longer available at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Vancouver (YVR).

Reserving a time in advance lets you bypass the line, and gets you front-of-the-line access to security screening.

While the programs differ slightly between airports, Express is currently available in the following cities:

In Calgary (YYC), you can use Express for domestic, transborder, and international departures; however, for domestic flights, you must enter through Security D or Security E and give yourself time to reach the A or B gates.

A summary of the locations and hours of operation is as follows:

Calgary (YYC)

International

In Edmonton (YEG), you can use Express for domestic and international departures. Express isn’t currently available on transborder departures.

A summary of the location and hours of operation is as follows:

Edmonton (YEG)

International

In Montreal (YUL), you can use Express for domestic, transborder, and international departures. 

A summary of the location and hours of operation is as follows:

Montreal (YUL)

Transborder

Montreal (YUL)

International

In Halifax (YHZ), you can use Express for domestic and international departures. Express isn’t currently available on transborder departures.

A summary of the location and hours of operation is as follows:

Halifax (YHZ)

International

How to Reserve a Security Appointment with Express

There’s no cost to use Express, you don’t need to create any accounts, and the entire process is completed in four easy steps.

You can reserve an appointment as far as 72 hours in advance of your flight. You’ll be able to book an appointment to go through security between three hours and 30 minutes and one hour and 15 minutes prior to your flight’s departure. 

For example, if your flight departs at 9am, you can book an Express appointment between 5:30–7:45am.

The process is easy, and only takes a couple of minutes.

You’ll first need to head to the Express website for the airport from which you will depart:

Next, you’ll simply need to enter in your date of travel, flight information, the number of passengers in your party, and your email address.

Shortly thereafter, you’ll receive an email containing a QR code. This is what you’ll need to show at the airport, so be sure to keep track of the email or take a screenshot so it’s easier to find.

On the day of travel, you have a 15-minute grace period for your pre-booked appointment. For example, if your pre-booked time is at 8am, you can show up between 7:45–8:15am for your appointment.

Unfortunately, if you’re early or late, you aren’t guaranteed a spot.

The Express signs should be easy to spot, and make sure you’re showing up to the correct security checkpoint at your airport of departure. Once your QR code is scanned, you’ll head through a separate security entrance, likely having saved you time in line.

Save time at security by pre-booking an appointment with Express

Up to 10 passengers may be booked on the same reservation, which is great for travelling in groups. You can also book your appointment while you’re at the airport, as long as one is available and you’ve arrived far enough in advance.

The Express service isn’t available to connecting passengers, unless they leave the secure area and re-enter. Furthermore, if you have a NEXUS card, you aren’t eligible to use Express, since you already enjoy priority access.

You can cancel or change your booking at any time, by clicking on the appropriate link in your confirmation email.

In some airports, you might be able to combine a transborder Express booking with Mobile Passport Control to speed up your entry into the United States. Of the airports that offer Express, you can also use Mobile Passport Control at Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), Halifax (YHZ), and Montreal (YUL).

Conclusion

By making use of Express, passengers departing from airports in Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax can enjoy a streamlined airport experience.

With Express, passengers can book a time slot at security, which results in heading to the front of the security queue for certain flights each airport.

This can be particularly helpful during busy times at the airport, such as March Break or the summer and winter holidays.

The service is free to use, and only takes a couple of seconds to reserve a spot. The time saved could be significant, so be sure to make use of Express if it’s available before your next flight.



This story originally appeared on princeoftravel

Michael Bloomberg Tops List of American Philanthropists

Entrepreneur
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Michael Bloomberg Tops List of American Philanthropists


Michael Bloomberg, 83, topped the list of Americans who donated the most money to nonprofits last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 50 list for 2024. It was the second year in a row that Bloomberg led the list.

Bloomberg gave $3.7 billion to charitable causes in 2024 in support of the arts, education, public health groups, and city government improvement programs. He made his contributions directly and through his charitable organization Bloomberg Philanthropies.

One sizable donation Bloomberg made was a $1 billion grant to Johns Hopkins University in July 2024 to cover the cost of medical school for students.

Related: MacKenzie Scott’s Nearly $20 Billion in Donations Has Had a ‘Transformative Effect,’ According to a New Study. Here’s How.

“I’ve never understood people who wait until they die to give away their wealth,” Bloomberg told the Chronicle in an email. “Why deny yourself the satisfaction? I’ve been very lucky, and I’m determined to do what I can to open doors for others and to leave a better world for my children and grandchildren.”

Michael Bloomberg. Photographer: Lionel Ng/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Five other individual donors or couples joined Bloomberg in giving away $1 billion or more last year. They were: Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin (second on the list), Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell and his wife Susan Dell (third), Warren Buffett (fourth), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan (fifth), and retired pediatrics professor Ruth Gottesman (sixth).

The bulk of the donations went to funds that supported causes like scientific research and education. Gottesman made a move similar to Bloomberg’s by donating $1 billion to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York in February to make the medical school tuition-free as of August 2024.

Related: Former Pediatrics Professor Donates $1 Billion, Makes Albert Einstein College of Medicine Tuition-Free

The top 50 donors on the list gave a collective $16.2 billion for philanthropic causes in 2024. The median amount they gave was $100 million.

Paychex founder Thomas Golisano was the eighth most generous donor on the list, giving away $500 million in 2024. Most of his donations, or about $400 million, were no-strings-attached contributions to over 100 nonprofits in New York and Florida. One of his areas of focus is organizations that support people with disabilities.

Former investment banker K. Lisa Yang (wife of Broadcom CEO Hock E. Tan) was the 34th donor on the list. She gave away $74.5 million this year, mostly to MIT and Cornell University. In February, Yang gave $35 million to Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Center to support wildlife conservation.

Venture capital investor Michele Kang (No. 28) donated $84 million in 2024, giving $4 million to the USA Women’s Rugby team.

The Philanthropy 50 ranking has been running for 25 years. In that span of time, Buffett has been the biggest donor, giving away $49.4 billion.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates were second overall, giving $34 billion together, while Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk were third, fourth, and fifth respectively in overall charitable contributions.

Bezos committed $10 billion in 2021 to the Bezos Earth Fund to protect nature and fight climate change while Musk has donated around $7 billion since 2020 to his organization, The Musk Foundation, which supports renewable energy research and science and engineering education.

Related: ‘Unexpected Funding’: Paychex’s Founder Donates $85 Million to 41 Nonprofits. Here’s Where the Money Is Going.



This story originally appeared on Entrepreneur

Google met with Trump’s DOJ in effort to avoid historic break-up of search giant

NYPost
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Google met with Trump’s DOJ in effort to avoid historic break-up of search giant


Alphabet’s Google met with President Donald Trump’s government last week and urged them to back away from a push to break up the search engine company, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department is currently pursuing two anti-monopoly cases against Google – one over search and another over advertising technology.

“We routinely meet with regulators, including with the DOJ to discuss this case. As we’ve publicly said, we’re concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security,” a Google spokesperson said.

Google parent Alphabet met with President Donald Trump’s government last week and urged them to back away from a push to break up the search engine company. AFP via Getty Images

The DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The department has laid out potential remedies in the search case, including making Google divest parts of its business such as the Chrome Web browser and ending agreements that make it the default search engine on devices like Apple’s iPhone.


Google CEO Sundar Pichai with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk last month.
The Justice Department is currently pursuing two anti-monopoly cases against Google – one over search and another over advertising technology. Above, Google CEO Sundar Pichai with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk last month. AFP via Getty Images

The trial over which of the remedies are appropriate is scheduled to take place in April, with a final ruling expected in August.

President Trump is expected to dial back on some of the antitrust policies pursued under the former President Joe Biden’s administration, potentially including a bid to break up Google over its dominance in online search, industry experts have said.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

We can be a sanctuary for immigrants but still fight crime

NYPost
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We can be a sanctuary for immigrants but still fight crime

As mayor of New York City and a former police officer for 22 years, keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority and it has been our administration’s North Star. When I entered this role, my job was to help our city recover from the negative effects of COVID — most importantly, to bring crime down. As a result, overall crime was down across New York City last year, and we have now had three straight months of double-digit declines in major crimes.

Tomorrow, I will be testifying before the United States Congress on how under our administration’s leadership, New York City can continue to reduce crime, even as a “sanctuary city,” and how big-city mayors can add sense back into governing.

It starts with standing firm in rejecting the misperception that a “sanctuary city” classification means our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals.

We must continue to ensure that those who commit violent crimes, no matter long-time residents or new arrivals, are held accountable and that the public is kept safe. Being a “sanctuary city” also does not give New York City the authority to violate federal immigration laws. To the contrary, New York City will always comply with city, state, and federal laws, as it does now.

Second, we must recognize that law-abiding immigrants in New York have played an important role in our society. Immigrant New Yorkers, including those who are undocumented, pay billions of dollars in taxes and contribute billions more in spending power to our economy. Immigrants also play a vital role in the functioning of the city; this was on full display during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The various immigrant residents of our city worked to keep the city moving while many other New Yorkers were able to shelter in place and work remotely. Hospitals, the food industry, and many other businesses were able to function because of the commitment of our immigrant population.

Finally, we must understand how — despite a patchwork of laws at the federal, state, and city levels — we must all still work together to solve what’s been a problem decades-in-the-making. I have consistently said, “I will work with the federal government, not war with them.”

That’s because, as mayor, I do not control who enters or remains in our country, but I do have to manage the population that is within our city. In order to carry out this function without having long-term negative ramifications, I must create an atmosphere that allows every law-abiding resident, documented or not, to access vital services without fear of being turned over to federal authorities.

I cannot have a city where parents are afraid to send their children to school or where children are sleeping on the streets — creating the potential for child exploitation and sex trafficking. If an undocumented person refuses to seek medical care until they have a medical emergency, our city’s health care system will be strained. And if an undocumented individual witnesses a crime but is afraid to call 911 for fear of being turned over to federal authorities, criminals will roam free.

As a former police officer, I have seen firsthand the damage that can be done when someone is too afraid to seek out the police. Early in my career, I responded to a man who was calling out for help. We caught the suspect but when it came to filling out the police report, the individual — an undocumented man from China — said he did not want to file a report and put a target on his back with federal immigration authorities.

Nearly four decades later, our country still has not passed comprehensive immigration reform and, as a result, New York City was hit with the largest humanitarian crisis in our city’s history over the last three years.

Since the spring of 2022, our city has seen over 232,000 migrants arrive in our city asking for shelter — that’s a population larger than Rochester, N.Y., Columbus, Ohio, and Tallahassee, Fl.

But thanks to our skilled management and smart policies that implemented restrictions on how long asylum seekers can stay in our care, and comprehensive border policies we vigorously advocated for, we’ve managed to help over 188,000 migrants take the next steps in their journeys.

And between June 2024 and June 2025, we will have closed 53 emergency migrant shelters thanks to our exit policies, allowing us to turn the page on this crisis, which we have largely shouldered on our own, and save taxpayers millions of dollars.

And consider this: when the unprecedented international migrant crisis arrived at New York City’s front door step, federal law did not allow me to stop buses from entering New York City and state law required me to provide all in our city with housing and meals and to educate children. We complied with these legal requirements and still managed the humanitarian crisis with care and compassion, while at the same time bringing down crime, recovering our economy, and preventing any child from being forced to sleep on the streets.

But, we, nor any city across the country, can do it alone. Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue, and something I, and others, have been calling for. While the solution is not within my control, as a mayor, I am committed to working with federal officials — no matter who is president — to go after violent gangs and those who harm residents of our city, and I implore everyone, whether a big-city mayor or any other elected official, to join us in following suit.

Adams is the Mayor of New York City.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

5 under-the-radar UK shares that deserve more attention

Motley Fool
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5 under-the-radar UK shares that deserve more attention


Small or lesser-known companies can have significant growth potential. Buying shares in these UK-listed companies early on can yield high returns if they grow successfully. But which to consider? Read on…

What it does: Central Asia Metals is a base metals producer with copper operations in Kazakhstan and a zinc and lead mine in North Macedonia.

By Paul Summers. Holders of shares in Central Asia Metals (LSE: CAML) endured a volatile 2024. Starting the year at just over 150p a pop, the stock soared as high as 235p by May as the company benefited from strong prices and solid operational performance. However, this gain had all been lost by the end of December. As far as I can tell, this is due to general geopolitical concerns and lacklustre demand for lead. 

The shares now yield a monster 10% for FY25. Assuming analysts aren’t wrong, that would represent a good return on its own. On an optimistic note, profit is expected to cover this cash distribution and the balance sheet looks robust.

Although rising costs could prove problematic, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of seven suggests quite a bit of negativity is already priced in. When sentiment for base metals improves, the stock could do very well.

Paul Summers has no position in Central Asia Metals.

Filtronic

What it does: Filtronic makes power amplifiers and transceivers that are used in the telecommunications, aerospace, and defence sectors.

By Ben McPoland. With a market cap of £232m as I write, Filtronic (LSE: FTC) is still a relatively under-the-radar UK stock. That said, it’s been a popular one recently, surging 172% over the past year.

This can be almost entirely put down to one word: SpaceX. That’s because Elon Musk’s reusable rocket company has been ordering components from Filtronic for ground stations that form part of its fast-growing Starlink satellite network.

In future, SpaceX intends to add tens of thousands more satellites to its mega-constellation. This could support years of rising sales at Filtronic, given its small size (less than £50m in revenue).

What could go wrong? Well, losing the SpaceX contract it signed last year would be extremely negative, as this key customer is now contributing around 50% of sales.

Also, the stock isn’t cheap, trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 38.

Finally, the company doesn’t have a history of sustained revenue and earnings growth. That might be about to change, but there could be lumpiness as SpaceX orders ebb and flow in future.

Ben McPoland does not own shares in Filtronic.

OXB

What it does: OXB is a contractor that develops and manufactures gene cell therapies for biotech and pharmaceutical firms.

By Mark Hartley. OXB (LSE: OXB), previously Oxford Biomedica, is a UK-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) specialising in cell and gene therapies. It was founded in 1995 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford and has evolved into a global leader in viral vector production, including lentivirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV) and adenovirus.

As a contractor, OXB relies on securing partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical firms. If it loses out on contracts to competitors, its performance could be impacted. Although its net margin has improved recently, the company is not yet profitable. If full-year results for 2024 miss expectations, it could hurt the share price. 

But a recent trading update outlined expectations of 78% organic revenue growth for FY2024, based on increasing demand for their CDMO services. Plus, its order book nearly doubled since August 2024, indicating strong commercial demand. 

I expect it will become a global leader in its field.

Mark David Hartley owns shares in Oxford Biomedica.

TBC Bank

What it does: TBC Bank is listed on the FTSE 250 and provides financial services in Georgia and Uzbekistan.

By Royston Wild. TBC Bank (LSE:TBCG) doesn’t attract anywhere near the same degree of attention as FTSE 100 firms like Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest.

Yet this is a bank which — thanks to its focus on fast-growing Georgian and Uzbekistani markets — could provide far better shareholder gains.

Past performance isn’t a reliable guide to future returns. But TBC Bank’s 208% share price explosion over the last five years underlines its incredible investment potential.

By comparison, Lloyds’ share price has risen just 21% over the same period.

Given the  varying economic outlook for the UK and Georgia, I expect this outperformance to keep rolling on. While the IMF thinks Britain’s economy will grow 1.1% in 2025, Georgian GDP is tipped to expand a whopping 6%, continuing the trend of recent decades.

If accurate, earnings at TBC could soar as financial services demand rises. Pre-tax profit here leapt 15.8% over the course of 2024.

A deterioration in Georgia’s fragile political landscape could impact future growth. However, I believe this potential hazard is baked into the bank’s low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 5.2 times.

Royston Wild does not own shares in any of the shares mentioned above.

Yu Group

What it does: Yu supplies gas and electricity to UK business customers and installs and operates smart meters.

By Roland Head. Yu Group (LSE: YU.) has delivered strong growth through a volatile period for energy markets.

Revenue has risen fivefold to £578m since 2019. Profitability has also improved, with operating profit rising from £3.5m in 2021 to £47m over the 12 months to 30 June 2024.

Yu is still run by its founder and 51% shareholder Bobby Kalar. I believe Kalar’s twin role as CEO and major shareholder means he’s likely to maintain tight financial discipline.

This is a key risk for energy suppliers. Yu is exposed to big swings in commodity prices, customer bad debt and the financial hazards of fixed price contracts.

Growing usage of smart meters, a new energy trading deal with Shell and falling bad debt levels suggest to me that Mr Kalar is managing this £252m business well.

If he can continue to do so, the reward for shareholders could be higher profits and generous dividends.

Roland Head owns shares in Yu Group.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

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