LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. The woman said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men returned the verdict after deliberating for about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. The former UFC champion later posted on his X social media account that he planned to appeal the decision . McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. The woman’s voice and hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” the woman said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” The woman had to take several breaks in her emotional testimony as she said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter. A paramedic who examined the woman the next day, testified that she hadn’t seen someone with that intensity of bruising. The woman said McGregor put her in a chokehold several times and later told her, “Now you know how I felt in the Octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to an Oct. 6 fight at UFC 229 in Las Vegas when he lost via submission to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov , followed by a wild post-fight brawl . She feared she would die and never see her daughter again. “He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she said. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. Police investigated the woman’s complaint, but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor said the two had sex that was athletic and vigorous, but not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full-blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said that when he was first questioned by police, he read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions.

10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will impose more regulatory curbs on unsecured lending if banks and finance companies do not mend their ways, it said in the Trends and Progress of Banking report published Thursday. The banking regulator also directed boards of lending entities to fix unsecured exposure levels prudently to prevent systemic risks. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping The report also highlighted that banks’ profitability rose for the sixth consecutive year and gross bad loans were at a 13-year low in FY24. Still, the RBI expressed concerns over interconnectedness between lending entities and private credit firms, high attrition among private banks, liberal underwriting standards for top-up loans, and rising cyber frauds. At the same time, it advised banks to fix the KYC gaps and closely monitor gold loans and hinted that it would issue directive to prohibit banks from charging pre-payment penalties on floating rate loans taken by small entrepreneurs. Although banks and finance companies have the discretion to set limits on unsecured exposures, “some entities have fixed very high ceilings, which need to be continuously monitored”, the RBI report said. The regulator's worries stem from the fact that even after it raised risk weightage on unsecured loans in November 2023, unsecured loans still constitute one-fourth of commercial banks' books at the end of March 2024. 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Justifying its stance, RBI said that even though credit growth has dipped, "delinquency levels and leverage warrant enhanced vigil". On top-up loans, the RBI pointed out that lenders often sanction extra facilities to borrowers with minimal processes and due diligence, generously underwrite loans, follow inadequate fund end-use monitoring, and deviate from loan-to-value (LTV) ratios and risk weights. "The RBI will assess the need, if any, for additional regulatory interventions to mitigate the identified risks in cases of other top-up loans," said the regulator. The central bank also warned about malpractices in the digital lending scape wherein "unscrupulous players in digital lending space, who falsely claim association with RE. Enhanced monitoring and transparency are required." To mitigate this risk, the RBI is in the process of setting up a repository of Digital Lending Apps. On the interlinkage between banks, NBFCs and private credit, the RBI said: "Strong interrelationship between them could give rise to systemic concerns along with the possibility of regulatory arbitrage to circumvent regulations." The regulator said close monitoring "is warranted as their reach expands beyond mid-sized corporate borrowers". The RBI said in its last October policy that it would restrict banks from charging prepayment penalties on floating rate loans of small businessmen to "safeguard customers' interest". At present, banks are not permitted to charge prepayment penalty to individual borrowers for purposes other than business. The RBI expressed concerns over high attrition in banks and finance companies, stating that “high attrition poses significant operational risks, including disruption in customer services and loss of institutional knowledge”. KYC GAPS It also directed banks to fix certain gaps in know-your-customer, or KYC processes. "Accounts getting frozen and lack of proactive customer assistance have caused operational inefficiencies and customer grievances," the regulator said. The RBI advised banks to closely monitor gold loan portfolios as it continues to observe irregularities in lending processes. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania TrumpC hilly weather and early nights make the winter months ideal for cuddling up with your favorite games. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or an after-dinner activity. They often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. Here are some games that can provide a whimsical escape for you or a crowd. Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead, where you’ll create quilts for cats. In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork also will transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the season. Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. Palia, a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar. For a single-player escape, try the recently released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. Some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar yesterday highlighted the significant impact of technological advancements on the healthcare industry, including clinical laboratory sciences, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ACCLS). He emphasised that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition towards Industrial Revolution 4.0, driving rapid transformation in the sector. As healthcare demands evolve, with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and an ageing population, the minister stressed the importance of adopting new diagnostic testing methods and smart technologies. These innovations enable faster, more accurate and higher-quality results, leading to improved interventions and treatment outcomes. Brunei, he said, is fortunate to have a progressive healthcare system prioritising innovation and patient-centric care. The Ministry of Health’s strategic investments in next-generation diagnostic tools, data analytics and digital health systems are crucial for delivering world-class healthcare services. However, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also cautioned about the ethical implications, data privacy concerns and regulatory challenges associated with technological advancements. Striking a balance between innovation and responsible technology use is essential. To further accelerate the adoption of technological developments, the minister underscored the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs). These collaborations between the public and private sectors can leverage expertise, resources and agility to develop and deploy innovative laboratory solutions. In line with Brunei Vision 2035, PPP initiatives aim to enhance the quality of life, create job opportunities and provide an efficient public service. The minister encouraged local companies to actively explore PPPs opportunities to improve not only laboratory services but also overall healthcare delivery. By harnessing the strengths of both the government and private sectors, PPPs can significantly improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services, ultimately benefiting the community and driving economic prosperity, said Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham. – James KonMelinda French Gates plans to match $1M in GivingTuesday gifts to groups that support women