The judge on Tuesday ordered WordPress owner Automattic to reverse its actions against WP Engine. The battle between WordPress owner Automattic and WP Engine seemingly struck US federal Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin as rather one-sided, as she ruled against Automattic on Tuesday and granted WP Engine the preliminary injunction it sought. “Judge Martinez-Olguin’s ruling clearly explains why [Automattic founder] Matt Mullenweg’s campaign against WP Engine has been so misguided,” said IDC research manager Michele Rosen. “By going to war with one vendor that is engaging in a common business practice, Mullenweg caused irreparable damage to the WordPress ecosystem.” The ruling Martinez-Olguin ordered Automattic to reverse many of its actions against WP Engine, and gave Automattic 72 hours to: Remove a list of exiting WP Engine customers that Automattic was publicizing to show how many of WP Engine’s customers were leaving. “Restore WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org as it existed as of September 20, 2024, including: reactivating and restoring all WP Engine employee login credentials to wordpress.org resources (including login credentials to login.wordpress.org) as they existed as of September 20, 2024.” Disable “any technological blocking of WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org that occurred on or around September 25, 2024, including IP address blocking or other blocking mechanisms” “Restore WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org in the manner that such access existed as of September 20, 2024, including: functionality and development resources; data resources (WordPress Plugin, Theme, and Block Directories, repositories, listings, and other password-protected resources within wordpress.org); security resources (login.wordpress.org); support resources (trac.wordpress.org and slack.wordpress.org); removing the checkbox at login.wordpress.org that Defendants added on or about October 8, 2024 asking users to confirm that they are ‘not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise.’” Return and restore “WP Engine’s “access to and control of its Advanced Custom Fields (“ACF”) plugin directory.” The judge further ordered Automattic to: Stop “blocking, disabling, or interfering with WP Engine’s and/or its employees’, users’, customers’, or partners’ access to wordpress.org.” Stop “interfering with WP Engine’s control over, or access to, plugins or extensions hosted on wordpress.org that were developed, published, or maintained by WP Engine, including those that had been published, developed, or maintained by WP Engine as of September 20, 2024.” No longer interfere with “WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ WordPress installations (i.e., websites built with WordPress software) by using auto-migrate or auto-update commands to delete, overwrite, disable, or modify any WP Engine plugin without the express request by or consent of WP Engine and/or its users, customers, or partners.” However, she added, “The above does not preclude wordpress.org’s ability to ensure the security and operability of its site consistent with procedures and policies in place as of September 20, 2024.” In her detailed decision, Martinez-Olguin reviewed every claim that WP Engine made against Automattic, and found for WP Engine in just about every instance, arguing that WP Engine “is likely to succeed on the merits.” For example, Automattic had argued that there were no contracts between WP Engine and key customers. Although Automattic representatives “press WP Engine to identify specific contracts, there is no credible argument that contracts do not exist between WP Engine and its customers,” Martinez-Olguin wrote. “At a minimum, by seeking to entice WP Engine customers to move away from the company ... defendants at least acknowledge that WP Engine has existing contracts with the customers Defendants are targeting.” Additionally, she said, Automattic’s argument “that the interference WP Engine alleges consists of acts they had a right to take fares no better. They insist that Mullenweg was under no obligation to provide WP Engine access to some or all of the sources on the Website and that he had a right, under the Website’s developer guidelines, to fork the ACF plugin as he did, including to address outstanding issues. “Mullenweg’s statement that he had the right to disable WP Engine’s account access and to make changes to the ACF plugin for the sake of public safety is belied by the declarations of WP Engine’s executives stating that the claimed vulnerability was minor, patched well before the fix-it window set by industry standard, and showing that Defendants tried to pass off the rating and reviews for the ACF plugin as those for their new purportedly forked SCF plugin.” WP Engine ‘wins a battle but everyone continues to lose the war’ Automattic responded with a statement saying that the ruling “is a preliminary order designed to maintain the status quo. It was made without the benefit of discovery, our motion to dismiss, or the counterclaims we will be filing against WP Engine shortly. We look forward to prevailing at trial as we continue to protect the open source ecosystem during full-fact discovery and a full review of the merits.” WP Engine also shared a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We are grateful that the court has granted our motion for a preliminary injunction that restores access to and functionality of wordpressdotorg for WP Engine, its customers, and its users. This ruling provides much-needed stability for the WordPress ecosystem. We deeply appreciate our customers for their continued trust and support. We remain committed to serving them and their sites with the performance, availability, and integrity they deserve, while collaborating to ensure a vigorous, thriving and stable WordPress community.” The case has concerned many in the open source community, as the acrimonious war of actions and words between Automattic and WP Engine scared various open source companies, along with enterprise CIOs , who worry that these companies might become too toxic and they might need to keep their distance. One open source executive read the judge’s decision and said he was concerned that the ruling might have come too late to halt the damage done to the open source community. “WP Engine wins a battle, but everyone continues to lose the war. WP Engine has had (about a) 15% increase in cancellations in the last few months, and 159 WordPress employees have quit. No doubt these distractions will negatively impact the innovation and evolution of the WordPress solution for months, if not years to come. It’s not hyperbole to say 40% of the internet is and will be losing in some way,” said Michael Sonier, general manager at ButterCMS. “As a 20-year-old technology, WP remained ubiquitous because of its ecosystem, but now it’s turned on its own. Hard not to see this accelerating the adoption of technologies that are 20 years younger,” he noted. “More broadly, it sets back the open source movement, which was always about community, collaboration, and contribution. Now it’s going to be associated with potential legal battles, finger pointing, and volatility.”
At Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. But one check-in desk remains flush with travelers: the one serving flights to the United Arab Emirates, which have kept up a bridge for Israelis to the outside world throughout the war. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering airlines’ bottom lines, have shined a light on the countries’ burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office. “It’s a political and economic statement,” said Joshua Teitelbaum, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University. “They are the main foreign airlines that continue to fly.” Since the wars began with Hamas’ initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, many international airlines have halted, restarted and halted again their flights into Israel’s main gateway to the rest of the world. The concern is real for the carriers, who remember the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine 10 years ago and Iran shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 after takeoff from Tehran in 2020. But FlyDubai, the sister airline to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has kept up multiple flights daily and kept Israel connected to the wider world even as its other low-cost competitors have stopped flights. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad has continued its flights as well. While maintaining the flight schedule remains politically important for the UAE after its 2020 diplomatic recognition of Israel, it also provided a further shot in the arm for revenues — particularly for FlyDubai. Since the Israeli’s wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon started, international carriers such as Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, Germany’s Lufthansa and other major airlines halted their flights. Some resumed, only to stop again after Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel and Israel’s Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has threatened to strike Israel again. That’s brought major business to Israel’s national carrier El Al, which had struggled in the coronavirus pandemic and prior years. The airline posted its best-ever half-year results this year, recording a $227 million profit as compared to $58 million profit in the same period last year. El Al stock has risen by as much 200% over the past year, as compared to a 29% rise in the wider Tel Aviv 125 stock market index. El Al, however, lacks the routes and connections of major international carriers. Low-cost carriers as well have stopped flying into Israel during periods of the war, sending the price of El Al tickets ever higher. Passenger numbers through Ben Gurion halved compared to the same period the year before, El Al said in its second-quarter financial results. However, FlyDubai has kept flying. The carrier has operated more than 1,800 flights to Israel since October 2023, cancelling only 77 flights overall, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. In September alone, it flew more than 200 flights. As a line snaked toward the FlyDubai check-in counters at Ben Gurion Airport, UAE-bound Motti Eis said the flights were “a symbol that the Emirates countries decided to keep the peace.” FlyDubai declined to answer questions from The Associated Press about the flights. Etihad, the flag carrier for Abu Dhabi, has kept flying into Tel Aviv, but the number of its flights has been dwarfed by FlyDubai. FlyDubai had 3.6% market share at Ben Gurion, compared to El Al’s 43.2% in the second half of 2024. However, at least two of the foreign low-cost airlines with greater market, Wizz Air and Blue Bird, stopped flying for extended periods this year. Etihad said it maintains a close watch on the situation in the region, but continues its daily flights to and from Tel Aviv. “Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, employing best practices in safety and security practices, enabling Etihad and other airlines to provide essential air connectivity as long as it is secure to do so,” the airline said in a statement. Beyond the financial impact, the decision also takes root in the UAE’s decision to recognize Israel in 2020 under agreements brokered by President Donald Trump known as the Abraham Accords. While Abu Dhabi has repeatedly expressed concern and outrage at Israel’s conduct during the wars, Israel’s consulate in Dubai and embassy remain open in the country. And while Dubai, broadly speaking, remains focused on business in the country, Abu Dhabi’s focus long has been on its geopolitical aims — which since the 2011 Arab Spring have been squarely focused on challenging Islamist movements and those who back them in the wider region. The UAE, a hereditary autocracy, long has viewed those groups as serious challenges to its power. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Ending Strategic Vacuum Us Strategy China Latin AmericaTOKYO, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM) ("MEDIROM”) announces that M3, Inc. (TOKYO PRIME: 2413), or an affiliate within the M3 group, is participating in the Series A equity financing round of MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc., a subsidiary of MEDIROM. NFES Technologies Inc. is the lead investor of the Series A financing round at a pre-money valuation of JPY9 billion. Additional information is available here: https://medirom.co.jp/en/ir/20240824/6148%09 Forward-Looking Statements Regarding MEDIROM Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about MEDIROM's possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may,” "will,” "should,” "design,” "target,” "aim,” "hope,” "expect,” "could,” "intend,” "plan,” "anticipate,” "estimate,” "believe,” "continue,” "predict,” "project,” "potential,” "goal,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to MEDIROM's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MEDIROM's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond MEDIROM's control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects MEDIROM's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MEDIROM's operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect MEDIROM's business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price is included in MEDIROM's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC”), including in the "Risk Factors” and "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” sections of MEDIROM's most recently filed periodic report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. MEDIROM assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. ABOUT M3, Inc. M3 is a one of a kind venture company that operates a multitude of global services centred around its physician platform such as m3.com. M3 is the first company incorporated after the year 2000 to be included in the Nikkei 225 Index. Its 330,000+ Japanese and 6,500,000+ global physician member panel serves as a central platform in advancing innovation and reform across healthcare worldwide. Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Securities code 2413) 1-11-44 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 JAPAN Web https://corporate.m3.com/en ABOUT MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. A subsidiary of MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM), focuses on the health-tech sector. The company's core activities include the "Specific Health Guidance Program" offered through the "Lav" health application and development and sales of the 24/7 recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet smart tracker. By leveraging the features of the recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet, MOTHER Labs offers customizable health management solutions across diverse sectors, including caregiving, logistics, manufacturing, etc. MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. NASDAQ Symbol: MRM Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Web https://medirom.co.jp/en Contact: [email protected] MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan MOTHER Bracelet is the world's first* 24/7 recharge-free smart tracker. It uses innovative technology from a Silicon Valley tech company that allows for power generation based on temperature differences between body and surrounding air. The recharge-free feature eliminates the risk of data loss when a device is taken off for recharge. MOTHER Bracelet records five basic metrics: heart rate, calories burned, body surface temperature, step count, and sleep. Official Website: https://mother-bracelet.com
Building on a Legacy of over 80 Years of Manufacturing Excellence - Gemcor Production Solutions Delivers Advanced Factory Integration with Automated Fastening Systems under Ascent AerospaceUS stocks surge to records, shrugging off upheaval in South Korea, FranceFrom the desk of... The power of real reality
ENERGY SERVICES OF AMERICA COMPLETES ACQUISITIONThe New York Giants on Friday released their starting quarterback and former high first-round pick Daniel Jones a couple of days after demoting him to the number 3 quarterback. The Giants were going to release him after the season as he had an over $20 million injury-protected guarantee. I think the Dolphins should try to sign him after he clears waivers. I’m not saying Daniel Jones is the answer at backup quarterback, but he seems like a fit in this offense. Jones got rid of the ball quickly in 2.5 seconds, not as quick as starter Tua Tagovalioa, but close enough. The Dolphins screwed their backup quarterback position this year, and they paid the price, but now is a chance for Mike McDaniel and Frank Smith to build back up another young quarterback, whose confidence must be shattered, just like he did with Tagovailoa a couple of years ago. Jones was caught in the middle of a regime change with the Giants in 2022 as they brought in a new general manager and head coach, so they inherited him. Jones played out the final year of his rookie contract and played the best season of his career. He led the Giants to the playoffs and won a road playoff game. Winning a playoff game is something Tagovailoa hasn’t done in his career. Jones’ career turned south in a hurry after the Giants gave him a new 4-year $160 million contract. The Giants sunk fast, and Jones didn’t play well, but the Giants didn’t help him out either. Their offensive line is a mess; they let their best playmaker, running back Saquan Barkley, leave this off-season, and outside of the top pick, Malik Nabers has no playmakers to throw the ball to. Now Jones has to play better, and he does not see the field well, and that’s probably because his confidence was shattered. He knew the righting was on the wall with the New York media always speculating about his job, and it didn’t help the Giants considered trading up for a quarterback in last year’s draft one year after giving Jones that contract. In the last few years, we have seen many high-draft pick quarterbacks get released by the teams that drafted them and resurrect their careers elsewhere. Sam Darnold was the number 3 pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets, and this year is the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, who are 8-2 and on their way to the playoffs. The Vikings drafted a quarterback in the first round of this year’s draft, but Darnold will land on his feet elsewhere. Baker Mayfield was the number 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 draft, and after they dumped him a few years ago, he landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a year and led them to the playoffs. He got a new contract and has the Bucs in the playoff hunt again. Geno Smith was a second-round pick of the Jets years ago, and after bouncing around the league, he landed on his feet with the Seattle Seahawks and got coached up to play well. He led them to the playoffs a couple of years ago and got a new deal and is doing well. These are just a few examples off the top of my head, but what it shows is that going to the right situation can help build a quarterback up and play well. Tagovailoa clashed with former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, and the Dolphins changed coaches. McDaniel has gotten Tagovailoa to play the best football of his career . He rebuilt his confidence, which was shattered, and brought out a personality that no one had seen before to lead this team. This is a time for Jones to get a fresh start and rebuild his career, and McDaniel could be the guy to do that. I think the Dolphins should seriously consider signing him for the rest of the year and next year to see if McDaniel can build him back up like he did Tagovailoa as well as see what he can do on the field. Jones’s skill set just looks like a good fit for the Dolphins. An acorn fell out of the tree, and it’s time for the Dolphins to pick him up. What do they have to lose? This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.Goodwill to Host Electronics Recycling Drive on National Technology Day
Stocks Rally on the Prospects of Trump’s Business-Friendly PoliciesFresh robotic hell On a scale of one to 10, just how desperate do you think Kim Kardashian is for attention? Judging by the billionaire's weirdly sexual photoshoot with a robot, the answer may be an 11. The entrepreneur and influencer, who is a big Tesla fan, recently posed with the company's Optimus bot in a Tesla Cybercab (a self-driving taxi) for a series of photos which might be described as avant-garde if you're being polite, and dystopian thirst traps if you're not. She also posted some rather less sultry videos of her interacting with the humanoid robot. The photoshoot has ignited something of a debate online about whether Kardashian is deliberately aligning herself with Elon Musk, who runs Tesla, and outing herself as a Trump supporter. Which is a bit of a stretch really as I'm not sure that – with the exception of an admirable stint working on criminal justice reform – Kardashian has ever pretended to be a leftist. Kardashian is a billionaire who has been sued for unfair labor practices and who announced, back in 2018, that she has "nothing bad to say" about Trump. Her Tesla-themed photoshoot was hardly a radical new direction for her. It is, however, a sign of the "autonomous everything" direction in which we're headed. The world's most famous influencer cozying up to a robot in a self-driving taxi is yet another example of how AI-powered autonomous technology is slowly marching into our lives. When it comes to Tesla's Optimus robot, of course, the operative word here is slowly. The robot, which isn't available for sale to the general public yet, may look flashy but it isn't clear just how sophisticated it actually is yet. The Optimus robots were a major part of Tesla's Cybercab reveal in October, serving drinks to the crowd and even chatting with them – as it turns out, however, these "cutting-edge" robots were actually being remotely controlled by humans. Which is a step up, I suppose, from when Musk unveiled plans for a "Tesla Bot" in 2021 by... Arwa Mahdawi
HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn women’s basketball team remained ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll for the fifth straight week and continued receiving first-place votes after winning the Baha Mar Women’s Championship. The Huskies earned seven of a possible 32 first-place votes entering Week 5, coming in behind No. 1 UCLA with 25. UConn recorded its second ranked win of the season over No. 18 Ole Miss, 73-60, in the Bahamas on Wednesday, and the team also handled Oregon State 71-52 at the tournament to improve to 6-0. UConn star Paige Bueckers was also named Big East Player of the Week for the second time this season for her performance at the Baha Mar Women’s Championship. The redshirt senior averaged 26 points, five assists, 3.5 rebounds and two steals per game across the Huskies’ pair of wins, shooting 66.7% from the field and 55.6% from 3-point range. She currently has the highest field goal percentage in the country among players averaging 22 points or more. After hosting Holy Cross at Gampel Pavilion on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, SNY), UConn is headed into a gauntlet of ranked opponents beginning with No. 22 Louisville on Saturday in the Women’s Champions Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Huskies then travel to South Bend, Indiana on Dec. 12 to face Notre Dame, which dropped seven places to No. 10 after losses to both TCU and Utah in Week 4. The Irish still have an elite ceiling with a statement win over No. 6 USC on their resume, and No. 9 TCU skyrocketed into the top 10 for the first time in program history with the upset. Duke also made its season debut in the top 10 at No. 8 after beating No. 11 Oklahoma last week. The Huskies will face No. 20 Iowa State at Mohegan Sun Arena in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase on Dec. 17, and the Cyclones have also looked less than their best over the past two weeks. They entered the season ranked No. 8 but plummeted after a loss to Northern Iowa on Nov. 20, and No. 3 South Carolina routed them 76-36 last Thursday. UConn then concludes its loaded slate on Dec. 21 with a sold-out home showdown against USC, a rematch from last year’s Elite Eight. AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll: Week 5 ©2024 Hartford Courant. Visit at courant.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 17, 2024-- Celero Commerce (“Celero”), a leading integrated electronic commerce solutions provider, today announced a new collaboration with EverBank, N.A., a national specialty bank serving clients across the United States, to enhance payment processing options for EverBank’s clients. Through this collaboration, EverBank will leverage Celero’s advanced payment and analytics platform to streamline financial operations for small business to larger commercial corporate clients, with a focus on expanding payment acceptance capabilities. The integration will enable a more flexible, seamless and scalable approach to payments, reinforcing EverBank’s dedication to providing innovative financial solutions to deliver the financial advantage clients deserve. “We founded Celero to deliver a proprietary suite of FinTech solutions tailored for financial institutions and small to mid-sized businesses,” said Celero founder and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Jones. “Paired with the superior service we offer, we know we can help deliver a better payments experience to EverBank’s customers.” Celero’s platform offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet complex client requirements, including real-time payment capabilities, robust fraud prevention tools and in-depth financial analytics, all strategically aligned to streamline payment operations. “We are always looking for ways to make our clients’ lives easier and improve their experience of working with us, and Celero shares our mission of providing best-in-class payments solutions to give our clients an advantage,” said Lindsay Lawrence, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of EverBank. “By collaborating with Celero, we are offering a solution that adapts to our clients’ evolving needs, ensuring we continue to support their success and growth effectively.” About Celero Commerce Headquartered in Nashville, Celero Commerce is a full-service, integrated electronic commerce solutions provider powered by leading-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and business intelligence. Celero offers small and medium-sized businesses payment processing services, business management software, and data intelligence, empowering them to drive growth and profitability. Celero is a top ten non-bank processor of electronic payment transactions in the world. Visit https://www.celerocommerce.com/ to learn more. About EverBank EverBank, N.A. (“EverBank”) is a nationwide specialty bank providing high-value products and services to consumer and commercial clients nationwide. As a pioneer in online banking, we offer convenient digital access for clients 24/7, in addition to phone banking services and a network of financial centers across Florida and California. EverBank’s commitment is to deliver to their clients high-performing, high-yield solutions backed by exceptional service, always giving them the advantage they expect to make the most of their money. Visit everbank.com or connect and interact with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X (formerly Twitter). EverBank is a Member FDIC. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241217424040/en/ CONTACT: Media Scott Farace scottf@celerocommerce.com (972) 533-5655 Media Michael Cosgrove Michael.Cosgrove@EverBank.com (904) 612-4160 KEYWORD: TENNESSEE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY PAYMENTS FINANCE FINTECH BANKING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOFTWARE DATA ANALYTICS DATA MANAGEMENT SOURCE: Celero Commerce Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/17/2024 02:00 PM/DISC: 12/17/2024 02:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241217424040/en
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced today that its board of directors has authorized an additional $3 billion for the repurchase of the company's common stock, increasing the outstanding authorized amount to approximately $4.2 billion. Share repurchases will take place from time to time, subject to market conditions and management's discretion, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day. Note: Statements in this press release contain or may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “trends,” “goals” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. A discussion of these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Todd Ernst 703-280-4535 todd.ernst@ngc.com newsbureau@ngc.com This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
A woman was pulled from the icy waters of a Stittsville pond on Wednesday morning. Ottawa Fire Services say they were called after police responded to reports of a person in the water in the 500 block of Nordmann Fir Court near Terry Fox Drive at about 10:50 a.m. An initial investigation found the woman fell through after trying to rescue her dog on the ice, according to Ottawa Fire spokesperson Nick Defazio. Ottawa paramedics say the elderly woman inhaled some water and had symptoms of hypothermia. She was taken to hospital in serious condition. Ottawa Fire Services is reminding residents to be cautious around icy waters as temperatures begin to dip. Residents should call 911 if a person or animal falls into the water and should never attempt a rescue themselves, the fire service says. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 20 Brilliant Gift Ideas Under $75 15 Gifts That'll Pry Their Eyes Away From Screens For A Bit 19 Of The Best Stocking Stuffers For Teenagers Home Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Hydroponic Gardens In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 21 Stocking Stuffers Under $5 For Everyone On Your List (And They're All From Amazon Canada) 19 Practical Gifts That Anyone Would Love To Unwrap Our Guide To The Most Giftable Toys In 2024 Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday Ottawa Top Stories WINTER TRAVEL ADVISORY | Snow, winter travel weather advisory continue to be in effect for Ottawa this Thursday Ottawa family urge government to approve husband and father's paperwork to get him back from Lebanon Wanted suspect arrested after being hit by a vehicle in the middle of the road: Hawkesbury OPP Protester arrested after disrupting City of Ottawa information session about Sprung structure Ottawa's chief medical officer Dr. Vera Etches to become head of CHEO Ontario announces new funding to revitalize downtown Ottawa, transform ByWard Market street into 'pedestrian-only' in the summer Woman suffers serious injuries after falling through ice in Stittsville Two suspects in Ottawa homicides on Canada's most wanted list: Bolo Program CTVNews.ca Top Stories DEVELOPING | Words carved into bullet casings, police sources say amid search for gunman in shooting of U.S. CEO Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park. AI modelling predicts these foods will be hit hardest by inflation next year The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025. Congo government says it's 'on alert' over mystery flu-like disease that killed dozens Congo’s health minister said Thursday the government is on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that in recent weeks killed dozens of people. 'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth. Ready to light up your home for Christmas? Here are some safety tips The magic of the holidays wouldn't be complete for many people without Christmas lights, but there are some important tips to know before you set up your ladder. George Russell accuses Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as F1 feud deepens Mercedes driver George Russell has accused Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as a dispute between the two at last week's race in Qatar deepened Thursday. Canada Post stores continue to operate during strike — but why? As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open. 'It was like I was brainwashed': 2 Ontarians lose $230K to separate AI-generated cryptocurrency ad scams Two Ontarians collectively lost $230,000 after falling victim to separate AI-generated social media posts advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. Canada's new public-sector payment system is still years away from being implemented After half a decade of testing and an investment of nearly $300 million, the federal government is still years away from fully implementing its next-generation pay and human resource cloud platform to replace the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system. Atlantic Storm brings snow, wind and rain to the Maritimes; some N.B. schools closed Thursday A number of weather warnings remain in place across the Maritimes Thursday due to an early December storm that’s bringing snow, strong winds and rain to the region. Storm Watch: School closures, cancellations Here is a list of school closures and cancellations for Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. A province-by-province look at what to expect from Thursday's storm An early December storm moving across northern New Brunswick Thursday will bring the Maritime provinces a mix of snow, rain, and high wind. Toronto Shooting outside Brampton home leaves 1 man dead, another injured Homicide detectives are investigating a shooting outside a Brampton home that left one man dead and another seriously injured late Wednesday night. 'It was like I was brainwashed': 2 Ontarians lose $230K to separate AI-generated cryptocurrency ad scams Two Ontarians collectively lost $230,000 after falling victim to separate AI-generated social media posts advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. Man dead after taxi strikes pole in Mississauga One man is dead after a taxi crashed into a pole in Mississauga early Thursday morning. Montreal 'Name what things are': Recognizing 'femicide' 35 years after the Montreal massacre Ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, Annie Ross, a mechanical engineering professor at Polytechnique Montreal, said she often thinks of those who lived through the tragedy but still suffer silently. Fewer fatal collisions in Quebec if blood alcohol levels are lowered: SQ The SQ has come out in favour of lowering the threshold for blood alcohol content from 0.08 to 0.05, saying it could result in 10 to 14 fewer fatalities per year. Quebec announces additional $10M for francization The François Legault government announced a $10 million one-time assistance to increase French language offerings in school service centres. Northern Ontario Suspect from Manitoulin Island charged in carjacking near Estaire, second suspect still at large Two people, including a 37-year-old Manitoulin Island man, are facing charges after an armed carjacking south of Sudbury last week. Sudbury council approved 2025 budget with 4.8% tax increase Sudbury city council approved its 2025 municipal budget Tuesday evening with a tax increase of 4.8 per cent. Family reeling as victim of Sudbury stabbing left paralyzed A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Josee Rouleau, the victim of a stabbing that happened in Chelmsford in Greater Sudbury on Nov. 22. Windsor Windsor-Essex escapes major snow event hitting southern Ontario There are no watches or warnings in effect for Windsor-Essex or Chatham-Kent, but if you are planning on travelling towards Sarnia or Chatham, take note of the road conditions. Canada Post strike hits three-week mark as union says it's ready to restart mediation As the Canada Post strike hits the three-week mark, the Crown corporation says it is reviewing new counter-proposals submitted by the union representing more than 55,000 postal workers. Gordie Howe Bridge on track for September 2025 completion After years of construction, officials for the Gordie Howe International Bridge feel they are in the home stretch. A meeting was held Wednesday evening in Sandwich Town to update residents on the state of construction. London Road closures, school closures, bus cancellations, more snow headed our way If you’re begging for the snow to stop, unfortunately reprieve is not on the way just yet. One dead in collision between vehicle and plow truck One person has died after a collision involving a plow truck in Perth East Thursday morning. Pedestrian in life-threatening condition after Wednesday crash Around 2:35 p.m. emergency crews responded to the area of Oxford Street east and First Street for the crash between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. Kitchener developing | Stratford woman sent to hospital in intimate partner violence investigation One woman has been sent to hospital as Stratford Police investigate an intimate violence investigation Thursday morning. One person sent to hospital after collision near Brantford One person was sent to hospital after a collision involving a tractor trailer and a pedestrian near Brantford early Thursday morning. One dead in collision between vehicle and plow truck One person has died after a collision involving a plow truck in Perth East Thursday morning. Barrie Snow squall warning issued for Simcoe County, with up to 30 cm of snow accumulation likely Snow squall warnings for Barrie and surrounding areas, with snow accumulations up to 30 centimetres likely. Barrie council heading for zero operating tax increase Barrie, Ont., council pencils a zero in next year's operating budget column. 17-year-olds arrested with loaded gun, drugs in Barrie, police say Police in Barrie say two teens were arrested for having a loaded gun and drugs in their possession. Winnipeg Proposed site for Winnipeg supervised consumption site in the city's core The province’s first supervised consumption site could soon be located along the Disraeli Freeway in Winnipeg. Province wants to discharge private nursing numbers The Manitoba government wants to reduce the reliance on private nurses in the public health care system. Canadian appears in U.S. court in decades-old cold case Robert Creter made his first court appearance since his extradition to the United States from Winnipeg. He's the prime suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Tami Tignor – a cold case dating back to 1997. Calgary This home outside Calgary is one of most expensive in Canada One of the most expensive homes in Canada right now is a sprawling estate in Rocky View County, just west of Calgary. WEATHER | More melting on the way with overnight lows above freezing A well-developed ridge of high pressure has stretched north along the Canadian Pacific coastline with the southeastern edge extending into southern Alberta. Former Calgary police officer wanted on Canada-wide warrant Calgary police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a former officer they say used police resources to contact women he met while on duty. Edmonton Edmonton city council set to approve lower-than-expected 2025 tax increase Edmonton property taxes will be rising less than expected next year. Removal of Treaty 6 flag in Barrhead a 'step backwards' for reconciliation: Grand Chief Treaty No. 6 First Nations Grand Chief Cody Thomas says the removal of the Treaty 6 flag in municipalities is a “mistake” and a “step backwards” for reconciliation. Suspects in West Edmonton Mall, lounge shootings among Canada's most wanted Edmonton police on Wednesday released the name and photo of a man wanted across the country for his alleged role in the 2023 shooting at West Edmonton Mall. Regina No injuries after early morning garage, camper fire in west Regina No injuries were reported after an early morning garage fire in the city's west end, Regina Fire said. Regina students enjoy holiday shopping spree in annual police initiative AI modelling predicts these foods will be hit hardest by inflation next year The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025. Saskatoon 'Acts of aggression' increase on Saskatoon Transit, violence against drivers drops Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon Transit, said "acts of aggression" can be classified as an intent to do harm, but physical violence hasn't happened. Saskatoon boy, 16, faces first-degree murder charge in death of woman found outside the Copper Mug A 16-year-old boy faces a first-degree murder charge in the case of a woman found dead in an 8th Street parking lot last month. 'Heartwarming': Santa's helpers in Saskatchewan help with Christmas letters amid postal strike With only a few weeks left until Christmas, families are gearing up for the Santa experience with their kids. However, one of the annual traditions - writing letters to Santa - was in jeopardy due to the postal strike. Thanks to some dedicated volunteers, the magic will continue. Vancouver Renewed calls for policy changes following random stabbing in downtown Vancouver There are calls for policy changes when it comes to public safety, following Wednesday’s stabbing in the Downtown core. Canadians to spend $801 more on food in 2025 as climate, Trump affect prices: report Food prices in Canada are likely to increase by three to five per cent next year, according to a newly released report, but wild cards like climate change and Donald Trump could have unforeseen impacts. Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities. Vancouver Island BC Ferries faces growing pressure to keep volunteer advisory committees BC Ferries is navigating more choppy waters, with growing pressure to reverse course on its decision to eliminate Ferry Advisory Committees. Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities. Federal minister Harjit Sajjan to attend Taylor Swift concert with taxpayer-funded ticket Harjit Sajjan, the federal minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, will be going to the Eras Tour on taxpayer dollars. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay ConnectedTEHRAN - In an analysis, Farhikhtegan analyzed the endorsement of the European-drafted resolution against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors. It wrote: The recent actions of Western countries, including the European troika (Germany, Britain and France), against Iran, show that Europe has put a confrontational approach on its agenda in dealing with Iran. One of the key goals of these countries is to lay the groundwork for the activation of the trigger mechanism. Since limits on Iran's nuclear program will end in October 2025 based on the JCPOA, European countries are trying to use the available tools to go on with the sanctions before reaching this date. In addition, the West is trying to use Iran as leverage to convince America to support the war in Ukraine. While the President of Ukraine has clearly stated that there is no evidence of Iran's missile assistance to Russia, Europe continues to impose new sanctions against Iran under this pretext. These unjustified sanctions show the aggressive approach of Europe to expand the range of pressure on Iran. In a note, Javan discussed the approval of the European-drafted resolution against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors without consensus. The paper said: The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday night finally approved the resolution against Iran proposed by the three European governments (Germany, Britain and France) with the support of the United States. These countries did not even wait for Grossi's return (from Tehran to Vienna). According to Foreign Minister Araghchi, the Iran nuclear case is now facing great complications compared to the past. Regarding these developments, there is no need to sit at the negotiating table with the 5+1 countries because many things have changed. With the current process, it is unlikely that the rest of the countries party to the JCPOA will fulfill their commitment. If negotiations are not done for a new agreement before the JCPOA expires, we will face a critical situation, and the European countries that are still party to the JCPOA may look for snapback mechanism that cannot even be vetoed by China or Russia. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned on Friday in response to the approval of the resolution of the Board of Governors: "If Europe implements snapback, our answer is to withdraw from the NPT." In an interview with Taghi Azadarmaki, a professor of sociology, Etemad discussed Iran's diplomatic capacities now that the Republicans have captured the White House and won control of the two chambers of Congress. He said: We see Iran and the world community in new conditions after Trump's rise. In his new approach, Trump disputes, argues and makes deals. However, Iran is in a different situation. Today, dealing with the sanctions is very important for Iran, and no war should happen. But peace at any cost is not suitable for Iran. Iran should adopt a two-sided approach. In fact, both the battlefield and diplomacy should be on the agenda. Applying this two-faceted policy is very sensitive and should be done together. If these two ways are followed, the Iranian society can safely overcome the existing challenges. Currently, the approach of Iranian politicians is highly important, just as military strategies are important in such a situation. The military and the politicians should present a single strategy in two forms so that Iran does not get caught in negotiations in a situation of deadlock or a war without return. Donya-e-Eqtesad sought the views of Kourosh Ahmadi, a former diplomat, about the goal of the three European countries of Britain, France and Britain in crafting a resolution against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors. Ahmadi said: The goal of the European troika was clear from the beginning and they are looking to lay the groundwork to activate the trigger mechanism. The recent resolution also has two purposes: first to set the stage for a possible activation of the trigger mechanism, and the second is a continuation of the issues (problems) we have had with the International Atomic Energy Agency over the past 4 years. These issues also include: reducing surveillances, discussing cameras and not giving visas to some inspectors, and finally demanding access to two sites that the Agency and Westerners have called suspicious. It is important to negotiate with the Western parties in these few months to prevent the activation of the trigger mechanism. The outcome of negotiations is also very important. This is while negotiation will take time. Also, according to their opinion, the European countries hope that with this resolution, Iran will either be encouraged or put under some kind of pressure and enter into serious negotiations with the other side after Trump enters the White House.WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed likely Wednesday to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices' decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which restrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender health care for minors. Supporters of transgender rights rally Wednesday outside the Supreme Court in Washington. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism over arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of transgender rights, questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should weigh in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states. "The Constitution leaves that question to the people's representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor," Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments. The court's three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers, but it's not clear that any conservatives will go along. People attend a rally March 31, 2023, as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility, near the Capitol in Washington. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents ages 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school's Williams Institute. "Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn't protect them. It didn't protect women for whole centuries," Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967 Loving decision that legalized interracial marriage nationwide. Quoting from that decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that "the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature." ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio, left, and plaintiff Joaquin Carcano address reporters after a June 25, 2018, hearing in Winston-Salem, N.C., on their lawsuit challenging the law that replaced North Carolina's "bathroom bill." Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation's highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that's susceptible to discrimination. Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito's questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. "So it's not an immutable characteristic, is it?" Alito said. Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients' favor. There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court's marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like "Champion God's Design" and "Kids Health Matters," while the other side proclaimed "Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights" and "Freedom to be Ourselves." Four years ago, the court ruled in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that "sex plays an unmistakable role" in employers' decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate. Demonstrators against transgender rights protest Wednesday during a rally outside of the Supreme Court in Washington. The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. Tennessee's law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state "decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors." She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban. Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association. For many trans and nonbinary people, bathrooms can be complicated places to navigate — a fact highlighted by in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is far from an outlier when it comes to failing to provide safe and equitable bathrooms for transgender people. According to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks LGBTQ+ policy, prevents transgender people from safely or legally using public bathrooms. But data shows that even in states with trans-friendly policies, transgender and nonbinary people report high rates of harassment in public bathrooms. Advocates say everyday people can have a big impact in interrupting discrimination in gendered restrooms. shows how anyone can help prevent abuse. Sex-segregated restrooms have historically been a hostile space for Tat Bellamy-Walker, a Seattle-based journalist and Black gender-fluid trans person. In graduate school and at journalism internships, they had to go far out of their way to find all-gender single-stall restrooms they could use safely. "You never forget being told you don't belong in a restroom, you never forget not having a place to dispose of sanitary products if you're on your period in the men's bathroom," Bellamy-Walker said. "It's just clear you do not belong in public spaces." Allies can help tremendously by locating and pointing out gender-neutral bathrooms to friends or family who might need them. This is especially important for people planning events or parties. Make sure your space has safe bathrooms. Carrie Soto, a South Dakota parent of a transgender child, said she lives by the mantra "see something, say something." That means speaking up when there is bullying and harassment and volunteering to accompany a trans/nonbinary friend or family member when they have to head into a public bathroom. "Validate a trans person's fears and anxiety about the situation," Soto said. " If [my daughter] uses a gendered restroom and feels anxious, I go with." It may seem obvious, but transgender health advocate Jamison Green notes this step can really help trans people feel safe. Consider first that according to , 59 percent of trans people avoided using a public restroom due to fear of harassment. Data from said they were physically or verbally attacked while trying to use a bathroom, while 4 percent were denied access to a bathroom. "If you see someone who you clock as trans or nonbinary, just smile or pay them a non-provocative compliment. ... Wish them good day or good evening, and move on," Green said. "Of course that only goes for the women's room! In the men's room, talking is extremely rare." Green recommends that cisgender people offer a kind, silent nod. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., allow residents to opt for "X" gender markers on their IDs in addition to selecting "M" or "F." Still, in every state, regardless of laws, most bathrooms in government buildings, schools, businesses, places of worship and cultural institutions are gendered. Advocates say people can help change this by simply asking businesses and building owners for more options to accommodate all genders. "Advocacy is the most important part of the fight for transgender rights," "And if employers adopt pro-trans policies proactively, instead of waiting for a transgender person to pave the way, there's much less chance of having problems down the line." The internet is full of rants not appropriate for a news article about people using the only single-stall gender-neutral bathrooms available not for safety but for ... well, pooping. As a result, gender-neutral bathrooms, especially in airports, are almost always occupied. There are many reasons why a cisgender person might need a single-occupancy bathroom (accessibility, illness, child care and, yes, even a little more privacy). Just like accessible stalls, it's a kindness to leave gender-neutral restrooms unoccupied when you don't need them. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.