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Twitter Inc. published its account of the negotiations of the $44 billion (€42 billion) deal the company closed with Elon Musk after he declared the acquisition to be "on hold." In Twitter's account of the negotiations, Musk never requested a non-disclosure agreement to prevent the company from talking about the negotiations, nor did he ask any questions about the company's business. Twitter's proxy statement, published for shareholders to understand and vote on the deal, depicts Musk as in a hurry to conclude the negotiations that took place over the weekend of April 23 and April 24 with his "best and final" offer. What has Twitter said about dealing with Musk? Instead of due diligence prior to inking the deal, Musk has instead taken feverishly to Twitter after signing the deal on April 25 to complain about fake users of the social media service and a lack of SEC oversight. On Tuesday, he tweeted, "Yesterday, Twitter's CEO publicly refused to show proof of <5%" of … [Read more...] about Twitter shares details of Elon Musk deal

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

Ukrainian fighters extracted from the last bastion of resistance in Mariupol have been taken to a former penal colony in Russian-controlled territory, with Ukrainian officials saying they hope that they can be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. However, their fate appears up in the air. One Moscow lawmaker has said they should be brought to “justice,” while Russian news agencies are reporting that Russia’s parliament plans to take up a resolution on Wednesday to prevent the exchange of Azov Regiment fighters. Ending the siege Russia's Defence Ministry announced on Wednesday that 959 Ukrainian soldiers entrenched at the Azovstal steel site had surrendered since Monday. "In the last 24 hours 694 fighters, including 29 wounded, have taken prisoners. Since May 16, 959 fighters, including 80 wounded, have taken prisoner," the ministry said in a statement. On Monday, buses left the steelworks in a convoy escorted by Russian armoured vehicles. Some headed for the … [Read more...] about Uncertainty over the fate of surrendered Mariupol defenders

Did you know that you can send cool effects to your friends with your iPhone just by sending a simple iMessage? All iPhone users have the ability to use a wide array of unique effects including lasers, balloons, fireworks, and confetti - but you need to know the secret codewords that set them off before you can use them. The feature has been available on the iMessage app for iOS devices for some time, but Apple fans have been posting about the fun text feature recently on social media. In fact, even if you already knew that when you reply to a mate's good news with "congratulations", you'll fill their screen with multi-coloured confetti, there may be more effects that you had no idea existed. Some messages will send fireworks ( Image: @unespc/Tiktok) 'Pew pew' starts a laser light show ( Image: @unespc/Tiktok) Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here. So check out our list of codewords and … [Read more...] about Codewords that allow you to do clever tricks on iPhone – including lasers

Neymar led Paris Saint-Germain's title celebrations, but fans of the French champions have stayed away as their protest against the club continues. PSG made sure of the title over the weekend , but their success came in less-than-convincing circumstances. Lionel Messi gave Mauricio Pochettino's side the lead against 10-man Lens at the Parc des Princes, but their depleted opponents still found an equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared on Saturday night. The game was notable for boos directed at Pochettino before kick-off, with reports suggesting the manager could still be sacked despite the title win. Supporters walked out in protest despite PSG reclaiming the Ligue 1 title - having finished runners-up behind Lille in 2021 - but the players still had time to celebrate. It was a fourth Ligue 1 title for Neymar since his world record move from Barcelona in 2017, though the Brazilian missed a chunk of the season through injury. The 30-year-old has just 11 goals in all … [Read more...] about Inside PSG’s private title celebrations led by Neymar as Lionel Messi nowhere to be seen

Marianna Spring Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Russia-Ukraine war A photo of a heavily pregnant woman fleeing a bombed maternity hospital became one of the most iconic images of the war in Ukraine. But its subject was targeted by an extraordinary Russian disinformation campaign and she received hate from both sides. Wrapped in a duvet with her forehead bloodied, Marianna Vyshemirsky's image was seen around the world. The photo above was taken in the aftermath of a Russian airstrike in Mariupol. It circulated online, on newspaper front pages, and was argued about at the UN Security Council. But, having survived one attack, Marianna faced another onslaught - of disinformation and hate aimed at her and her family. As Russia attempted to sow falsehoods about the attack, 29-year-old Marianna was falsely accused of "acting". … [Read more...] about Marianna Vyshemirsky: ‘My picture was used to spread lies about the war’

Published 21 April comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Publishers say the popularity of readers discussing their favourite books on TikTok helped lift sales to record levels in the UK in 2021. Total book sales rose 5% to £6.7bn last year, with fiction, children's and young adult all performing well, the Publishers Association said. The organisation said four of the top five young adult bestsellers in 2021 had been driven by the BookTok trend. They included hit titles like They Both Die at the End and We Were Liars. Publishers Association chief executive Stephen Lotinga said viral videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube had been "really significant" in encouraging readers to discover books. "Anecdotally, we've had lots of individual booksellers talking about the fact that they're having lots of young people coming into their book … [Read more...] about TikTok helps UK book sales hit record levels, Publishers Association says

Published 2 May 2021 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A Labour MP has apologised "unreservedly for any error he made" by asking a constituent for prescription-only anxiety drugs. Byron Long claimed to the Mail on Sunday he gave his MP Stephen Doughty up to 140 diazepam pills during up to 20 meetings at a Cardiff coffee shop. Mr Doughty's spokesman categorically denied the paper's report. But he said the MP did ask his "friend" Mr Long for "a few spare diazepam" once in 2019, to take ahead of a flight. The spokesman added: "To the best of his recollection, at the time he was panicking, had been unable to get to a GP for an appointment, and as a friend who he regularly shared confidential personal mental health worries and anxieties with, asked Byron if he had a few spare diazepam, which he had previously been prescribed for such circumstances, and taken without any … [Read more...] about Stephen Doughty: MP sorry for asking constituent for diazepam

Published 9 June 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A councillor has resigned from two councils and as a member of the Conservative Party after sharing racist messages on social media. Robin Vickery, a Suffolk County and Ipswich Borough councillor, shared a post calling for black and Asian people to be deported. The county council said it had received more than 620 complaints about his actions. Mr Vickery said he was "looking forward to my retirement". He was due to retire in May next year and said he would not be commenting further on the posts. The Conservative groups on both authorities suspended Mr Vickery and launched an investigation when they were made aware of the social media posts. He also reposted two messages on Facebook comparing the reaction to the death of George Floyd with the murder of Lee Rigby. Dr Dan Poulter, the MP for Central … [Read more...] about Suffolk and Ipswich councillor resigns over racist posts

Published 8 June 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A councillor's sharing of racist messages on social media is "completely unacceptable", an MP has said. Robin Vickery, a Conservative Suffolk county councillor, shared a post calling for black and Asian people to be deported. Conservative MP Dan Poulter said there was "no place" for racism in the Conservative Party. Mr Vickery has not responded to the BBC, but told the Ipswich Star he was "very sorry" for any offence caused. He also said he was "not aware" the comments about deportation were in the thread when he reposted it on Facebook. Suspended from group The leader of the Conservative group on Suffolk County Council, Matthew Hicks, said in a statement: "I have requested an investigation takes place into [Mr Vickery's] social media activity and I have asked that the investigation is held as soon as … [Read more...] about Councillor blasted by MP over racist posts