Paul Paolucci, the top cop for one of the world’s biggest credit card companies, sure had some interesting friends. One made a fortune fronting for pornography websites that needed access to Mastercard’s and Visa’s payment networks. Paolucci, who oversaw Mastercard’s merchant fraud control, was photographed cavorting around the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel with him and a group of women in white corset minidresses. A second was a Lamborghini-driving e-commerce mogul with whom Paolucci used to celebrate family holidays. The mogul ended up in prison for a financial crime he committed, in part, using Mastercard’s network. An executive at a famously corrupt European bank claimed to have dined with Paolucci and gotten his help evading Mastercard’s regulations. It was Paolucci’s job to make sure that the banks and companies using Mastercard’s network were playing by the rules. He bent those rules himself by getting close to the very kinds of high-risk businesses he was supposed to be … [Read more...] about Two-Card Monte: Why Mastercard And Visa Rarely Shut Down Scammers Who Are Ripping Off Consumers
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Photo: Miley Cyrus reacts to Selena Gomez’s SNL impression of pop star
Miley Cyrus has recently reacted to Selena Gomez spot-on impression of the singer on Saturday Night Live . On Tuesday, Hannah Montana star turned to Instagram to share a photograph of herself sitting on a bed with a cup of tea and a smirk look on her face. The singer-songwriter donned a custom-made tank-top which had something written on it in bold block letters on the front. It read, “Hell yeah I’m Miley Cyrus”. Cyrus also tagged the official Instagram account for SNL as well as her fellow former Disney star Gomez in the caption under the post. Interestingly, the Wrecking Ball hit-maker’s response came a few days after the 29-year-old made headlines for performing the best impression of Cyrus. While hosting SNL for the first time, Gomez revealed in her monologue that she “immediately asked” her Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short for advice. “Adding to this, Gomez also told the audience that she also asked one of her … [Read more...] about Photo: Miley Cyrus reacts to Selena Gomez’s SNL impression of pop star
Simon Cowell reveals he and Lauren Silverman have not set a wedding date yet
Simon Cowell talked about the rumours surrounding the date of his wedding with fiancée Lauren Silverman, revealing he has not set a date yet. In a recent interview with ET Canada , the Britain's Got Talent judge revealed that he has not even planned the wedding. The music mogul told the outlet, "I keep reading that I am going to get married next week, next month. It's news to me." "We haven't put a date on it," the 62-year-old added. Previously, it was speculated that the television personality will tie the knot with Silverman in London in the month of June. Cowell further said that the rumours made him laugh as he revealed that people have been calling him to ask why aren’t they invited to the ceremony to which he responds, "Because we haven't planned it yet!" He was invited as a guest judge for the season finale of Canada’s Got Talent which happened in Niagara Falls in Ontaria. Cowell was then asked if he knew that the destination was famous for being a honeymoon … [Read more...] about Simon Cowell reveals he and Lauren Silverman have not set a wedding date yet
Amber Heard ‘loved’ Johnny Depp even after he attempted to kill her, court hears
Amber Heard revealed in court that she loved ex-husband Johnny Depp ‘very much’ even after he allegedly tried to kill her after their infamous fight in Australia in 2015. During her cross examination by the Pirates of the Caribbean star’s legal time on Tuesday, Heard talked about her ‘mixed relationship’ with her former husband. Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez asked the 36-year-old actor about the couple’s horrible fight in Australia in 2015 regarding which Depp previously testified that the Aquaman actor threw two vodka bottles at him which resulted in severing the tip of his finger. However, Heard denied the allegations as she told the court that Depp suffered the injury after he smashed a wall-mounted phone on the wall. "I didn’t assault Johnny in Australia,” Heard said in the court on Tuesday. “I didn’t assault Johnny ever." The actor was then asked if she was scared of Depp after their fight to which Heard replied, "I have a mixed relationship with Johnny — one in … [Read more...] about Amber Heard ‘loved’ Johnny Depp even after he attempted to kill her, court hears
Shoaib Akhtar reveals secret to breaking barrier of 160kmph pace
KARACHI: Pakistan’s legendary former pacer Shoaib Akhtar revealed the training techniques that helped him increase his bowling speed and ultimately allowed him to break the 160kmph barrier in ICC WorldCup 2003. In a video, shared on his YouTube channel, Akhtar said: "I use to bowl 157 and 158kmph consistently but somehow I was unable to click 160kph. I started planning regarding myself to train in order to cross the 160kmph barrier." The Rawalpindi Express continued: "Initially, I tied up myself to a tyre and pulled it but the tyre was too light to build my muscles. Later, during the nighttime in Islamabad, I tied myself to a small car and pulled it but this also looked light training for my body." Shoaib Akhtar maintained that he later planned to tie himself to a truck and pull it. This worked out, as he started training and managed to pull a truck to almost 5 miles, he added. Shoaib Akhtar while revealing his gym training said, "I doubled my weight training for sake of … [Read more...] about Shoaib Akhtar reveals secret to breaking barrier of 160kmph pace
BAP, allies submit no-trust motion against Balochistan CM
ISLAMABAD: A political crisis is brewing in Balochistan once again as the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and its allied parties have submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo today. According to the PTI Balochistan chapter's President Yar Muhammad Rind, the party members united against their leader Bizenjo and decided to move a no-trust motion against him. "We have the required numbers and the no-confidence motion will succeed against Bizenjo," claimed Rind, adding that the party will decide about the new chief minister after holding consultations with the allied parties. Out of 65 members, 33 votes will be required for the success of the no-trust motion. Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson Farah Azeem Shah said that Bizenjo will remain the chief minister of Balochistan for the next five years as well. "The no-confidence motion against him will fail," she maintained. … [Read more...] about BAP, allies submit no-trust motion against Balochistan CM
Ukraine: Russian soldier pleads guilty of murder at Kyiv trial — live updates
Russia expels 34 French, 27 Spanish, and 24 Italian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move Russian soldier pleads guilty at murder trial in Ukraine Ukrainian and Russian officials say peace negotiations have stagnated EU announces funding to help bloc move away from Russian fossil fuels Finland and Sweden submit NATO membership applications This article was last updated at 12:49 UTC/GMT Russian soldier pleads guilty of murder at Kyiv trial Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old Russian tank commander held in Ukraine, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to killing an unarmed civilian. After his convoy was hit, Shishimarin and four other fleeing soldiers are alleged to have stole a car from outside the village of Chupakhivka in the early days of the invasion. He is accused of attacking the 62-year-old, who was riding past them on a bicycle, to prevent him from reporting their presence. "One of the military servicemen ordered the accused to kill a civilian so that he would not report … [Read more...] about Ukraine: Russian soldier pleads guilty of murder at Kyiv trial — live updates
Finland’s Parliament approves NATO membership application
Finland's legislature on Tuesday approved the country's bid for NATO membership with 188 votes in favor and eight against, Parliament Speaker Matti Vanhanen said. The vote comes after two days of parliamentary debate, during which the foreign affairs committee said "Russia's long-standing aggressive policies and the goal of dividing Europe into new spheres of influence took on a new dimension after the country's invasion of Ukraine ." "Failure to respond would lead to a narrowing of Finland's foreign, security and defense policy," it added. The vote in Parliament was seen a formality, as Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin had already announced that Finland would go ahead and that minimal opposition was expected. "Our security environment has fundamentally changed," Prime Minister Marin told parliament on Monday at the start of the debate. What happens next? The vote clears the way for a Finnish application for membership in the Western … [Read more...] about Finland’s Parliament approves NATO membership application
More Bad Netflix News: 150 Jobs Were Just Slashed
Yikes. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images At this point, it’s not fair to say Netflix can’t catch a break; it’s more like Netflix is actively smashing breaks on the floor in a frantic effort to appease shareholders. Deadline first reported that the troubled media giant is eliminating 150 jobs as of May 17, many of them higher-up roles in original-content programming. “As we explained on earnings, our slowing revenue growth means we are also having to slow our cost growth as a company,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “So sadly, we are letting around 150 employees go today, mostly U.S.-based.” The Netflix spokesperson said the company is “working hard” to support those laid off “through this very difficult transition.” Among the more senior staff let go this round, according to Deadline, are the directors of Netflix original series, original comedy series, and spectacle and event TV. Vulture has reached out for a statement. The layoffs follow those in the … [Read more...] about More Bad Netflix News: 150 Jobs Were Just Slashed
Defiant locals stand firm amid Russian onslaught in southern Ukraine
The tension is overwhelming in villages near the frontline of Russia's war in Ukraine, reports Euronews' international correspondent Anelise Borges . Ukrainian troops have tell her that shelling around Kherson in the south is constant and indiscriminate. One soldier, showing Euronews around a school bombed earlier in the conflict, alleges Russian troops are using cluster bombs, which are banned under an international treaty. In Sevchenkove, on the road between Kherson and Mykolaiv, some locals say they are staying behind to protect what is left of their homes and country. "What can I tell you?" asks Svetlana. "We built these houses with our own hands. To leave this is very hard for us. Very hard. "We don’t want this war," she adds, beginning to cry. "We want to live in peace." Elsewhere in the village, Liubna and her husband Leonid have been spending every night in their dark damp basement. They have stockpiled jars of pickled vegetables to sustain … [Read more...] about Defiant locals stand firm amid Russian onslaught in southern Ukraine