TAOISEACH Simon Harris has made a personal phone call to brave rape survivor Nikita Hand. The Fine Gael leader paid tribute to Nikita’s courage after the mum won her civil action against MMA fighter Conor McGregor. A source told the Irish Sun: “The Taoiseach has offered Nikita his full support and solidarity.” The stony-faced multi-millionaire UFC star had nothing to say as he left the High Court in Dublin city centre after the verdict . The jury awarded almost €250,000 in damages to hair colourist Nikita , who said she was “brutally” raped and “battered” by the mixed martial arts star in a Dublin hotel penthouse six years ago. A crying and shaking Ms Hand bowed her head and listened to the verdict surrounded by family, supporters and her boyfriend. McGregor bowed his head and remained seated upon hearing the jury’s decision. However, despite saying nothing as he left the court, the “disappointed” dad-of-four later vowed to appeal the judgment of the jury. He posted on social media : “I will be appealing today’s decision. “The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. “I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future.” Ms Hand is to be awarded €60,000 in general damages and €188,000 in special damages, totalling €248,000, said Mr Justice Alexander Owens. The court has already been told that ‘special’, or medical damages, have been agreed by both sides. The jury of eight women and four men found former hairdresser Ms Hand had been assaulted by the UFC fighter following the three-week civil trial. A second man, James Lawrence , of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh, Dublin , did not assault Ms Hand, the jury found. The judge sent the jury out to begin their deliberations just after 3pm on Thursday, before sending them home after around an hour. They resumed at 10am today before announcing a verdict after six hours and ten minutes. During the three-week trial , McGregor took the stand in his own defence , telling the jury that he had “consensual” sex with Nikita Hand, which he described as “enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous” and carried out in a “multitude” of positions.Shares of United Natural Foods ( UNFI 20.02% ) were soaring today after the leading wholesaler of organic and natural foods posted strong results in its fiscal first-quarter earnings report, beating estimates on the top and bottom lines. As a result, the stock finished the day up 20%. UNFI is on the rebound United Natural Foods (UNFI) has now more than tripled from its low in the spring as investments in increased efficiency and other initiatives are paying off. In Q1, revenue increased 4.2% to $7.87 billion, easily beating estimates at $7.61 billion. Its supernatural segment, which currently consists of just Whole Foods, delivered strong growth with revenue up 13.8% to $1.84 billion. At its largest segment, chains, which consists of grocery banners with more than 10 locations, revenue rose 3.5% to $3.29 billion. The business benefited from value initiatives that attracted increased spending from existing customers like Whole Foods, and it's also optimizing its distribution network, driving profitability improvements. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ( EBITDA ) rose 14.5% to $134 million. On the bottom line, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose from a loss of $0.04 to a profit of $0.16, well ahead of the consensus at a loss of $0.01. UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas said, What's next for UNFI The food wholesaler also raised its guidance for the full year. It now sees revenue of $30.6 billion to $31 billion, which represents a 0.6% decline at the midpoint, and was up from its previous forecast of $30.3 billion to $30.8 billion. It also raised its adjusted EPS forecast from $0.20 to $0.80 to $0.40 to $0.80, which compares to just $0.14 in the quarter a year ago. The stock might look pricey based on that forecast, but there is a lot of room for improvement here and upside potential for this niche leader.Nearly a week after Canada Post workers went on strike nationwide, federal, provincial and territorial governments say Canadians will still be able to receive essential government mail and financial support cheques through other means. The strike has brought mail delivery across the country to a halt. Only certain government cheques are still being mailed out. An agreement between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) allows some unionized employees to deliver federal support payments during the labour dispute. Those payments include the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan. Service Canada says most of the people who receive these federal financial assistance payments — between 94 and 98 per cent — get the funds through direct deposit. The federal government says employment insurance (EI) clients can contact Service Canada if they are in "dire need." Service Canada says it can make arrangements for cheques to be delivered to their homes or a government office. WATCH: Canada Post strike hitting North, vulnerable communities hard Canada Post strike hitting the North, vulnerable communities hard 1 day ago Duration 2:01 The Canada Post strike is hitting Canada’s northern regions and vulnerable communities hard. One Ottawa food bank, which gets most of its financial donations through the mail, warns the disruption is seriously impacting its ability to serve clients. Nearly all other government support payments and correspondence will not be mailed during the strike. Most provinces and territories are making support cheques available for pickup at government offices. They are also encouraging people to switch to online payments or direct deposit if they can. In Ontario , welfare and disability support cheques are not being mailed out. A spokesperson for the provincial government said about 2.5 per cent of recipients still get their money via cheques in the mail. "There is a plan in place to ensure that clients will receive their payment through their local offices on time," the spokesperson said in an email to CBC News. Ontarians who receive disability payments by mail will be contacted by local offices and told where their cheques will be sent at the end of the month, the spokesperson added. In Quebec, a long list of payments will be distributed through most provincial services offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. "The Government of Quebec is doing everything in its power to enable thousands of government program beneficiaries to receive their cheques," the provincial government's website says. A Quebec government office in Gatineau, QC posts a sign for pickup of provincial support cheques. (Marina von Stackelberg/CBC) The government of British Columbia is warning there could be longer lineups as people come to get their payments at ministry offices. "Bring your ID and be patient with staff," the province's website reads. Postal workers have agreed to deliver Alberta's Seniors Benefit and Alberta Pension cheques. The Alberta government says it's also using "contingent mail services." Albertans will be notified by the provincial government if there is government mail they need to pick up. Those who need to send mail to the Alberta government can drop it off at a designated provincial office , no stamp required. Manitoba has also opened up pick-up and drop-off locations for cheques and other essential government mail. Saskatchewan , Prince Edward Island , New Brunswick , Newfoundland and Labrador , and Nova Scotia all have plans in place as well. Passports, provincial assistance cheques not being delivered as Canada Post strike drags on Service Canada holding 85,000 passports as Canada Post strike continues Territories use couriers, cargo to move essential mail The Yukon government said it's partnered with a local courier to transport essential government mail to communities across the territory. "Community post offices remain open and are still able to distribute mail in their respective communities. They operate under a different union," a spokesperson for the Northwest Territories said in an email to CBC News. In Whitehorse, each department has a designated pickup point for essential government mail. The government of the Northwest Territories told CBC News it is using couriers, trucking companies and airlines to help move its essential mail. It says residents who normally receive income assistance and the Seniors Home Heating Subsidy through the mail can pick up their cheques at Education, Culture and Employment service centres, or contact a client navigator to request a different option. "Our staff are ready to assist clients and make arrangements to ensure they receive their benefits," a spokesperson for the Northwest Territories wrote in a statement to CBC News. Nunavut has found other ways to transport and deliver materials between communities, a spokesperson for the territorial government said. Government identification and certificates can be delivered through Nunavut's "robust cargo network, which the government of Nunavut uses regularly to transport documents and goods," the territory wrote in a statement issued to CBC News. "Government Liaison Offices in each community may be used to assist in local distribution of government documents shipped to communities." A total of 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike on Nov. 15 after a year of negotiating with the Crown corporation over a new collective agreement. Both sides remain at the negotiating table.
The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward
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The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding Iran's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June. But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried by 19 votes in favour, with 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. Ahead of the vote on Thursday night, the United States and its European allies sought to rally support for their resolution by denouncing Iran. In its national statement to the board, Washington said that Tehran's nuclear activities are "deeply troubling". London, Paris and Berlin in a joint statement drew attention to the "threat" Iran's nuclear programme posed "to international security", stressing that it now had enough highly enriched uranium for four nuclear weapons. In a first reaction after the vote, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Mohsen Naziri Asl, told AFP that the resolution was "politically motivated", citing its "low support" compared to previous censures. The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations". The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. Moreover, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. Since 2021, Tehran has significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices to monitor the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, Iran has rapidly ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium. That has heightened fears that Tehran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which it denies. The resolution comes just as IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. "This is a concrete step in the right direction," Grossi told reporters Wednesday, saying it was "the first time" Iran had made such a commitment since it started breaking away from its obligations under the nuclear deal. The landmark 2015 deal -- which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief -- fell apart three years later after the unilateral withdrawal by the United States under then-president Donald Trump. In retaliation, Tehran began gradually rolling back some of its commitments by increasing its uranium stockpiles and enriching beyond the 3.67 percent purity -- enough for nuclear power stations -- permitted under the deal. Although symbolic in nature at this stage, the censure motion is designed to raise diplomatic pressure on Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the censure "will disrupt" interactions with the agency, but stressed Tehran would remain keen to cooperate. Earlier, Araghchi had warned of a "proportionate" response by Iran if the board passes the resolution. According to Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, the resolution has the potential to "harm Rafael Grossi's efforts". "But Western powers are frustrated by the lack of effectiveness of his diplomatic manoeuvres and are looking for firmer solutions," she told AFP. On Wednesday, Grossi said he could "not exclude" that Iran's commitment to cap enrichment might falter "as a result of further developments". Foreign policy expert Rahman Ghahremanpour said Tehran might retaliate to the new censure by "increasing the enrichment levels". But he does not expect any drastic "strategic measures" as Iran does not want to "aggravate tensions" before Trump returns to the White House. pdm-anb-kym/givAnalysts Set AtriCure, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATRC) PT at $43.11, wife of former NFL star , is preparing for a major career milestone as the host of a new weekly talk show, Not Gonna Lie. The announcement comes shortly after shared the , revealing on social media that she and Jason are expecting another daughter. Set to premiere on December 5, the digital series is being produced by the team behind 's New Heights podcast. In Not Gonna Lie, will delve into her life beyond the title of "football wife," discussing topics such as modern parenting, social media, women in sports, and other contemporary issues. "I'm excited to have conversations with fascinating people and create a platform where I can be unapologetically myself while also setting the record straight on the many stories that circulate about my family," noted. "I've been around their team for several years and I've seen firsthand their ability to deliver content that feels authentic to who I am." A new chapter for the Kelce family and 's relationship has been in the spotlight since their marriage in April 2018, and the couple has built a life filled with milestones. Their growing family includes daughters Wyatt, born in 2019; Elliotte, born in 2021; and Bennett, who arrived in February 2023, just weeks after Jason faced his brother Travis in Super Bowl LVII. Jason retired from the NFL in March after 13 seasons with the , citing his desire to spend more time with his family. "I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father," he said. "A father who is present, loving, and devoted." 's pregnancy announcement garnered widespread support from fans and loved ones, including Taylor Swift, who liked the post, and , Jason and Travis's mother, who enthusiastically commented on the news. , wife of , also chimed in, writing, "Ahhhhhhhh Congrats you guys!!!"