#swift payment services

[eastnetsblogs]

The Role of Cloud in the Future of SWIFT Payment Services for Banks and Financial Institutions

With the advent of digitalization, financial institutions face ever-evolving challenges, from increased cyber threats, such as the notorious 2016 cyber attack on Bangladesh's Central Bank, to regulatory compliance, keeping up demands for new and better solutions. SWIFT payment services, which many international banks rely on as their backbone for financial communication, are also being transformed as banks switch to the cloud for security, scalability, and operational efficiency.

The Evolving Financial Landscape:

​The banking world is now facing a constantly changing set of challenges. As competition from fintech companies and digital-first banks increases and promises faster and more customer-centric services, traditional banking systems are losing their efficiency.

As nearly 70% of banks and financial institutions experience some form of a cybersecurity breach, and in this regard, a more secure and flexible architecture has become a necessity. Additionally, complexities around adherence to different regulations, such as GDPR and PSD2, only further inflate cost and resource requirements.

Why Cloud Technology is Essential:

Cloud technology has since changed the contest for all banks and financial institutions striving to future-proof their operations. Utilizing the cloud allows banks or financial institutions to scale up their infrastructure as required, minimizing expenses and increasing flexibility.

Quicker updates and faster time to market are critical for becoming competitive, and cloud solutions also play a role. The state-of-the-art security features provided by cloud providers also assure that sensitive data in banks and financial institutions can be better protected and any risks can be minimized.

Revolutionizing SWIFT Payment Services:

Migration to the cloud is crucial for banks and financial institutions using the best SWIFT payment services. Cloud solutions such as Eastnes' SWIFT Hosting provide a safe, affordable alternative to traditional on-premise systems, as well as seamless SWIFT connectivity. Such an outsourced service will offer not just less maintenance effort but also greater data security and better protection from cyberattacks as well.

Conclusion:

Cloud adoption provides numerous advantages, such as scalability, cost, security, etc. A cloud-first strategy can help banks and financial institutions tackle future challenges in a more agile way while ensuring growth and resilience.

[chrystal-ink]

Outlaw Shadow x fem reader

Ride into the sunset

description: the lonely outlaw makes his way back into town his reason, you warnings: Reader is a sex worker, brief mentions of sex work. Minors DNI Notes: i don't think I've written faster in my life. inspiration definitely struck with this one. I might go back and make some changes here and there but I NEEDED to get this one out lol. -enjoy

The sun beat down on the plains as the outlaw moved through the shadows. Any one with half a brain would avoid town with a bounty on their head, take it as a sign to get out of there and never return. However the outlaw had something to take care of, someone much more important than any bounty could get in the way of.

He entered the dusty brothel through the back entrance the stench of spilled alcohol and dried tobacco from its patrons stung his nose. The out of tune piano played as the performers on stage danced entertaining the crowd.

He snuck over to the bar where a familiar bat was stationed cleaning her counter top, before he could sit down she poured him a drink which he happily accepted.

“Have I missed her?” The outlaw asked.

“She’s up next.” Miss Rouge responded “but I need to talk to you.”

The outlaw looked at her in confusion he always paid his bill as overpriced as she was he always left her with plenty of money to cover whatever was necessary.

“It’s not about your bill it’s about one of my girls.”

“What about her?”

“She’s stopped seeing clients.”

“What do you mean?”

“She has removed herself from the roster for any sort of private entertainment for any of my patrons, she will only entertain you privately in the rooms upstairs and she won’t be taking payment for it either.”

The outlaw’s calloused heart skipped a beat. Was that really true?

“now, as owner of this establishment it is my duty to protect my girls, if she doesn’t want to take clients that is fine by me, but I will not stand by and let you drag her heart through the dirt so you either commit to this or walk out the door, do you understand.”

“I understand Rouge I’ll take care of her.”

The bat smiled taken by surprise at the outlaw’s swift answer.

“My, after all these years on the lamb you’ve finally grown a soft spot.”

In all honesty it wasn’t a hard decision for the hedgehog to make he had come to the establishment to make his intentions known to you anyway.

He didn’t intend to buy yours or anyone else’s services when he first came into the brothel two years ago. Rouge, one of his oldest friends, had offered him a place to stay if he would run security for her. She had just bought the place and was determined to clean it up. So he was responsible for kicking out any rowdy customers, anyone who would grab, or harass any of the workers. It wasn’t a glamorous job but he felt accomplished at the end of the day knowing he protected innocent people from harm.

Most of the girls stayed away from him, mostly out of fear. His reputation was far from secret, being an outlaw wanted in six counties was far from ideal for him either, still there was one girl who wasn’t afraid of him at all in fact she seemed more curious than fearful.

He never took any of her offers and yet she still stuck around him. He found her conversations to be the best part of his day often seeking you out whenever you weren’t entertaining just to talk to you.

The first time he entered your room it was a particularly crowded day. Shadow had been a well known feature of the brothel at that point, most patrons were too afraid of what he’d do to them if they acted out to even attempt to do anything, so he got a nice break. It had been too loud in the showroom to carry any decent conversation so you led him up to your room. In the quiet privacy of your quarters the two of you opened your souls to each other.

He told you of his past, a simple life on the farm turned sour. The family he lost, the sister who was murdered and the determination to never let anyone suffer like that again. His mission in life was simple, serve justice even if the law wanted to get in the way and in this corrupted town it often did.

You told him of your past as well, a girl from a rich family forced to marry a man you never loved who dragged you out west and gambled all of your money away before being shot in town square for not paying back his loans. you would have died in the streets if Rouge hadn't found you and offered you a job.

He admired your courage and determination to pull yourself back up despite your unfortunate circumstances. You were proud of the work you did as it finally gave you the independence to move on from your family.

"My mother would keel over and die if she knew what I was doing" you said to him one day. "But I don't care, I would have died myself if I had been married to that scoundrel another minute."

"You deserved better" he commented.

"I'm gonna find me better one day, mark my words"

the glimmer of hope in your eyes as you spoke made Shadow's heart race.

He began visiting your room more and more a relationship blossomed between the two of you. He found himself truly caring for you and wanting to protect you.

He never got physical with you, knowing your line of work he didn't want you to see him as one of your clients. the only thing he wanted from you was your companionship, and it would kill him if you thought anything else.

as the two of you got closer it became harder not to cross that physical barrier. he loved you and he didn't just want you to hear it he wanted you to feel it to know with every fiber of his being that he was yours. still he kept himself under control, that was until his last visit to you.

“And up next on the stage is our radiant miss Pearl here to sing a song for you” the announcer shouted the curtain opened as you stepped out to thunderous applause.

Miss Pearl was your stage name Rouge insisted that all her girls identities be concealed, you finally had given him your real name privately about six months ago he was surprised at how well it suited you. He preferred to call you that over miss Pearl any day.

You began your song slow and melodic, singing of a love you pined for hoping someday he would return. Your eyes scanned the crowd when a glimmer had caught your eye, it was him. your heart swelled, no longer were you performing for the crowd rather you were serenading your love as he smiled at you, a smile only you were allowed to see.

you watched as he drank in every note that left your lips, his beautiful crimson eyes never left you once as you performed, everyone in the room seemed to disappear the longer you stared at one another.

finally your song was over, you saw miss Rouge slide the key to your room over to Shadow. you raced off stage to meet him there the two of you had so much to talk about.

Shadow entered your room just as you had finished getting into your dressing gown.

"I'm surprised to see you here today, I thought for sure you were waiting for the heat on you to die down."

"I had to see you." he responded "I hated the way I left you"

"The Sharif was looking for you I understand. besides it was exciting, helping you escape and all."

"Still, it didn't feel right."

"well that can be easily remedied," you took his hat and coat off leaving him in just his shirt you led him to the bed gently pushing him down to lay on it. "You were right there" you laid down beside him moving your face close to his so you were only inches apart. "And I was right here." You cradled his face in your hand as he leaned into your touch.

“I shouldn’t have done what I did”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I wanted to do that.”

“I Just don’t want you to think I was using you for that.”

“I never thought that of you” you paused a moment collecting your thoughts. “I have been with a lot of men in my time, especially in my line of work. My husband, my clients they all had one thing in common.”

“And what was that?”

“They never saw me as anything more than a piece of meat. They were only interested in their own desires, it didn’t matter if they were doing it with me or the girl next door or anyone else in this place. They would thrust into me only chasing their desires never mine, half the time I would just get bored staring at the ceiling waiting for them to be done.” You scoffed.

Shadow looked deep in your eyes seeing the pain of overwhelming loneliness you hid deep inside, behind curtains of happiness and hospitality. He took your hand in his brushing the back of it with his thumb.

You continued “But you, you’re different you’re the first person who cared, you wanted to know me. You don’t see me as anything less than a person. You waited till I was ready, and when we finally did it, it was a whole different experience.”

You smiled thinking back to his gentle touch his low rough voice softening asking you if you were okay, it was clear he had been seeking your desire rather than his. And when the two of you were finished, he held you in his arms while he cleaned you up.

That was when the sharif came in. Someone had tipped off his location after he stole back some horses for a family who’s farm had fallen on hard times. the wealthy man who swindled the horses from them was found tied up and gagged in his mansion his safe tapped into and all the gold inside mysteriously vanished. Shadow only kept enough money to keep him afloat giving the rest to those who needed it.

The Sharif knew what Shadow was really doing, often turning a blind eye to it. He knew this town was corrupted and if Shadow was the one to balance it out so be it, unfortunately he had to step in whenever shadow went too far past the boundaries of the law.

The Sharif entered the brothel loudly giving the two of you plenty warning. You helped Shadow out the window, lying through your teeth as the sharif interrogated you.

“I couldn’t go back to taking clients after that. It didn’t feel right.”

“That couldn’t have been an easy decision to make”

“It didn’t feel like it, not really."

the two of you sat quietly taking in the moment. You had been apart for two months and if felt like torture. now that you were reunited neither of you wanted to leave.

Shadow had looked around your room, it hadn't changed too much in his absence. but there was one stark difference on your vanity sat a poster, one that bared his face.

"Is that my wanted poster?"

a dusting of pink made it's way to your cheeks.

"It was the only way I could see you while you were gone"

"You wanted to see me?"

"I always want to see you"

the confession came so casually but it was just as effective.

"Speaking of which I got you something." you got up from the bed opening one of your drawers you pulled out a small piece of paper handing it to him.

turning it over he saw it was a photograph of you.

"I got this taken a few weeks ago, i figured it wasn't fair that I got to see you everyday while you had to rely on your imagination for me."

Shadow smiled tucking it into his shirt pocket.

"I'll make sure to take care of this then since you went through all the trouble for me."

you smiled coyly at him.

"I need to tell you something." Shadow said looking you in the eyes.

You nodded nudging him to go on.

"I Love you, everything about you, I know things are hard with me being an outlaw , having to flea town every few months, and I know that what were doing might put you in danger but, I want to start a life with you. I have a plot of land ten miles from town It's not much but I can build us a home maybe a small farm. you can still work of course if that's what you want to do. I know you enjoy your independence and I'd never want to take that from you."

your heart raced at his words. it was everything you had wanted to hear him say but a thought clung to your mind one you couldn't ignore.

"If we do this, I'll become an outlaw too wont I?"

He nodded solemnly.

you sat a moment weighing your options, finally coming to a decision.

"I'll do it, but only on one condition."

"Anything"

"You have to teach me, everything. how to do what you do and how I can do it. I see the work you do I know it can get bad but I see the good that comes from it. I can cover areas that you can't, I know how to spot someone in a bad situation, if I can get them out before things get really bad maybe they'll start to see what you're trying to do."

Shadow thought about it, he hated the fact that you would put yourself in danger like that, but he admired your boldness. he loved that you understood what he was doing and he appreciated you wanting to help. He knew you were smart and capable, that you would pick things up quickly. he knew outlaw life was lonely, but maybe it didn't have to be.

He looked at you seeing the hope in your eyes was all he needed for his answer.

"You've got yourself a deal"

You smiled at him, rushing to pull him in.

The two of you embraced each other for the first time not just as partners in love, but partners in crime.

[graceisinthelibrary]

@sunsetinyork asked for a drabble for the prompt "You hair is tangled". I'm not sure, what follows is what she had in mind, but I tried anyway.

It was the kind of chaos that ensued, when a cat afraid of an injection went berserk, and a rat, eager to explore the world, escaped his safe cage. 

Surgery had been busy with several dogs, two chickens, a macaw called Bertram, and two cats. Bimbo and Betsy. The cats were siblings and lived on a farm in the outskirts of Darrowby. While one of them was shy, but still enjoyed a treat and a good cuddle while being examined by Siegfried, the other one was much more suspicious of the man in the white coat who tried to lure her with something that smelled like tuna, but definitely wasn’t. She conducted herself like a martyr. Siegfried, despite being swift and used to handle cats, got himself clawed by her. He hissed and couldn’t get hold of Betsy. So she managed to jump off the table and dug her claws into the blinds of the big window…  

About the same time, Audrey was in Siegfried’s study and dusted the shelf in the corner. With lovely precision she cleaned every token, every picture, before she noticed that the Vonolel wasn’t in his cage. 

The cage door stood wide open and the rodent was gone. “Golly!” A closer look revealed an incriminating trail of hay and crumbs spread beneath Mr Farnon’s desk. It led out of the study into the hallway. Audrey swallowed. Surgery was almost empty now, the last client inside and from the noise coming from the front of the house, she doubted the rat would have tried to run there. These creatures were clever after all. And they liked food… 

“My pantry,” she whispered to herself. Dropping her feather duster, she quickly turned into the hallway and rushed into the kitchen, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor. Every now and then she saw a piece of hay that confirmed her suspicion that the clever pet had indeed been on his way into the scullery. 

As she entered her domain she stopped and held her breath. The kitchen, so it seemed, was empty, the dogs thankfully not around. They were used to Vonolel of course, but she had no idea how the three would get along if they were about to meet each other in the wild without protective elements like a corral. 

She looked under the table, checked some of the cupboards and the basket. Vonolel was nowhere to be seen. 

The pantry. The door was ajar. She had no choice but to enter it to look for Mr Farnon’s beloved pet, but she had no desire to touch the rodent. She had learnt to accept him, yes, she even didn’t mind his presence, and she freely admitted the rat was quite cute. With his little face and his whiskers he were a good looking chap, but he were still a rat… 

She straightened her shoulder and pushed the door open. One look was enough to find out where he was. 

“You’re as subtle as Mr Farnon,” she said, crossing her arms over her shoulder. The rat gazed back, expectantly and, that’s how she interpreted it anyway, a bit mockingly. 

Vonolel was sitting in the middle of shelf where she kept the cheddar beneath a cheese dome and a big ham that had been the payment from a farmer for services rendered. Since he wasn’t strong enough to get under the dome, he had nibbled at the ham. 

“You aren’t fussy, are you?” 

Telling herself to be brave, she stepped forward and quickly grabbed the rat with both hands. A shiver ran down her spine and she didn’t really dare to look at the small, soft creature in her hand. His fur felt surprisingly warm and exquisite. She half expected to be bitten by him, but no such things happened. If anything Volonel rubbed himself against the palm of her hand and sniffed. His whiskers tickled a bit. She did her best not to squeeze him, because she feared she could break one of his tender bones. 

As the rat didn’t make any attempts to escape, she carried him out of the pantry and her kitchen. The passage and the corridor had never seemed to be that long before. Ages seemed to have passed before she finally reached the examination room. The door was now open and she marched in without even looking if a customer was still in. 

“Mr Farnon! You’ve got to close that blooming cage or that rat of yours will soon become an ingredient for…” dogfood, she had wanted to say. Instead she gasped when she saw Siegfried standing at the window, the back of his hand bleeding, his hair astray and everything that had once been cluttered over the desk at the window was now scattered over the floor. But she had only eyes for him. 

“You’re hair is tangled,” she said, somewhat dumbfounded, Vonolel still in her hands, close to her chest. 

He stared back at her, disheveled, in pain, and absolutely astonished she was holding the one pet in the house she usually gave a wide berth. 

“What happened?” They asked in unisono. 

Yielding precedence to her, he leaned backwards against the desk. “I were cleaning your study and the cage were open. Found him in the pantry…” Under his scrutinising eyes she finally dared to look at Vonolel who was curiously sniffing at her pinny

“He likes you,” Siegfried said, the expression on his face pleased, almost in awe. 

“Because I smell of food. I’m afraid he ransacked the pantry.” When he made no claim on his rodent friend and just smiled at her, she felt how she blushed and changed the subject, “And you?” 

“I became the victim of a cat,” he replied. “It’s nothing.” He looked at the back of hand, where the cat had dug her claws into him. 

“Just give me a moment,” he added and went to the sink to wash his hands. 

“That wound needs a bandage,” she said when he carefully dried it with a towel. “You won’t take him with an open wound.” 

“I’ll be fine,” he assured her, but obediently put a pad on the back of his hand and secured it with a tape before he asked her to hand over the rat. 

“Did Mrs Hall treat you well?” He asked playfully as he put the rat on his shoulder. 

“Mrs Hall’s ready to read the riot act to the both of you if you don't lock that cage and make sure he stays inside! Imagine one of the dogs would have found him!” She tried to aim one of her angry looks at him, but the sight of the rat on his shoulder, climbing around his neck was too precious. There was also this daring curl of his hair that was falling into his forehead that completed the scene. 

Siegfried eyed the rat on his shoulder and said, “She’s angry with us, which means she’s worried about you. That’s a good sign! I told you, the two of you would become friends eventually.” 

“Daft apeth!” She scolded him, knowing she was actually smiling. “Can I leave you along with this mess or do you need assistance?” She prompted him, pointing at the mess on the floor. 

“We will be fine, Mrs Hall, but thanks for offering…. That is…” 

She arched her eyebrow. “A cup of tea…maybe?” 

“I’ll see what I can do about it.” With one last look at Vonolel who was climbing down Siegfried’s chest, looking for a place in his white coat, she turned away and mindfully closed the door behind her. On her way back into the kitchen she couldn’t stop smiling and when she poured Siegfried a cuppa, she added a piece of shortbread to his saucer and a tiny piece of cheddar for Vonolel. 

[gatheringbones]

[“England by now had caught the contagion of lawlessness which the war had spread upon the continent. Soldiers, returning with the habit but no longer the fruits of pillage, formed small bands to live by robbery, or as retainers of lords and knights who returned to find their demesnes impoverished as a result of the Black Death. A whole generation, from the sack of Caen at Edward’s first landing to the raid in the Aargau, had accustomed itself to brigandage and resorted to it easily at home. According to a complaint in Parliament, companies of men and archers, sometimes under a knight, “do ride in great routs in divers parts of England,” and take possession of manors and lands, ravish women and damsels and bring them into strange counties, “beat and maim and slay the people for to have their wives and their goods,” hold them prisoner for ransom, and “sometimes come before the justices in their sessions in such guise with great force whereby the justices be afraid and not hardy to do the law.” They commit riots and “horrible offenses” whereby the realm is in great trouble, “to the great mischief and grievance of the people.”

Royal justice made no serious effort to restrain them because the King was dependent for military forces on the same nobles who were responsible for the disorders. The resulting breakdown of justice was a major cause of the Commons’ anger. In the Vision of Piers Plowman, which first appeared in 1377, the figure of Peace petitioning against Wrong, in the person of a King’s officer who has carried off his horses and grain and left a tally on the King’s Exchequer in payment, complains that he cannot bring him to law because “he maintaineth his men to murder mine own.” Private lawlessness equally was on the rise. “Tell me,” asked the Bishop of Rochester, a sympathizer of the Commons, “why, in England, so many robberies remain unpunished when in other countries murderers and thieves are commonly hanged? In England the land is inundated by homicides and the feet of men are swift to the shedding of blood.”

Outlawry among free peasants had increased because their command of higher wages, as a result of depopulation, brought them in constant conflict with the law. The Statute of Laborers, in a world that believed in fixed conditions, still held grimly to pre-plague wage levels, blind to the realities of supply and demand. Because the provisions against leaving one employment for a better were impossible to enforce, penalties were constantly augmented. Violators who could not be caught were declared outlaws—and made lawless by the verdict. Free peasants took to the nomadic life, leaving a fixed abode so that the statute could not be executed against them, roaming from place to place, seeking day work for good wages where they could get it, resorting to thievery or beggary where they could not, breaking the social bond, living in the classic enmity to authority of Robin Hood for the Sheriff of Nottingham.

It was now that Robin Hood’s legend took on its great popularity with the people, if not with the country gentlemen and solid merchants of the Commons. They complained bitterly how “out of great malice” laborers and servants leave at will, and how “if their masters reprove them for bad service or offer to pay them according to the said statutes, they fly and run suddenly away out of their service and out of their country �� and live wicked lives and rob the poor in simple villages in bodies of two and three together.” To keep them on the land, the lords offered many concessions, and towns welcomed the wanderers to fill the shortage of artisans, so that they grew aggressive and independent. They were most angry and seditious, and haughty about food, according to Langland, when their fortunes prospered. “They deign not to dine on day-old vegetables … penny ale will not do, nor a piece of bacon,” but rather fresh-cooked meat and fried fish, “hot-and-hot for the chill of their maw.” Joining with villeins and artisans, they learned the tactics of association and strikes, combined against employers, subscribed money for “mutual defense,” and “gather together in great routs and agree by such Confederacy that everyone shall aid the other to resist their Lords with a strong hand.” A generation ready to revolt against oppression was taking shape.”]

barbara w. tuchman, from a distant mirror: the calamitous 14th century, 1987

[rory-cakes]

There are times in everyone’s lives that they wish to forget. Whether it be a bad date or losing a loved one, sometimes, those memories get mucked up whenever you see a particular person. It’s not their fault; they can’t help existing, but it doesn’t mean the mess in your mind makes it easier to be with them. 

Such was the case when Akiko Yosano stepped into Bar Lupin at 8:00 pm on a Sunday. 

“It’s been a while, Miss Butterfly,” came the smooth voice behind the bar. 

“Yes, it has, Miss Shadow,” Yosano replied. 

Screams of broken men echoed in the walls of their minds as the angel and the weapon stared at each other. A darker time when they were both too young to be in a place filled with so much death. 

Y/n Dazai was happy that her dear friend got out from under that man’s thumb. However, it didn’t make it hurt any less. All those years she spent alone before Osamu. 

Akiko Yosano was happy with her life now, but still felt guilty for leaving behind the one person who always had her back. 

Breaking off the unintentional staring contest, Y/n looked down at her workstation. “What can I get for you, old friend?” 

Old friend, huh?

“I was hoping for some intel on a bounty that is currently out.”

The bartender arched a brow. 

“Ah! That tiger boy has gotten very popular with that price on his head. You are not the first to come to me about him.”

Yosano scoffed. “Let me guess, Mori?”

“Client confidentiality, I’m sorry.” The twitch in her smile told Yosano all she needed. That conniving little rat had already sent out people to try to capture Atsushi, but to no avail. Now, he tried to get Y/n to work for him? He must be really desperate if he’s trying to break Y/n’s rules. 

“So,” Y/n continued, “what do you want to know specifically? I don’t have much right now, but I can find out more if I need to.” 

Y/n started to clean some glasses as Yosano walked forward, still a little uneasy around her former companion. 

“Thanks, we just want to know who put out the bounty. I’m sure you know the kid’s under the agency’s protection now.”

Y/n smirked; of course, she knew. She had eyes and ears everywhere. No one could infiltrate her network. 

“I’ll let you know as soon as I find out more.” Y/n smiled and put the glass down. 

Yosano started to pull out her purse. “Alright, how would you prefer payment?”

“Don’t worry about money. Just say you owe me one and I’ll call it even.”

Yosano blinked up in surprise and suspicion. 

“Why? And what do you mean by favor?”

“I mean that when the time comes, I will ask you for a reasonable favor, and you will complete it no matter what.” 

“I can’t agree to that.”

“And why not? Don’t you think I’m owed something?”

Yosano sucked in a breath. 

“Look, I’m sorry for what happened in the past, but I can’t do this!”

“I think you misunderstand me; the favor I ask of you will be of equal weight to the service given. So, information for information.”

“An equal exchange.”

“Precisely!”

“Alright then.”

“Good! It seems we have a deal,” her former companion smirked. 

Heart beating fast, Yosano is swift to make her exit, “Yes, I look forward to any details you find.”

“Farewell, Yosano.”

“Farewell, Lupin.”

The door closes as the angel of death slips from the establishment. If she had waited a moment longer, she would have heard–“It’s Dazai.”

Prev/Masterlist/Next

A/N: Hi everyone!! Um I'm still gonna be on hiatus for the most part but I wanted to upload this chapter because I had some free time over easter to write and I hope you're excited for the next chapter!

Also if you would liked to be tagged there is a form on the masterlist to fill out.

taglist: @surrealitea, @mel-star636, @heeseung-lover686, @stuffeddeer, @fairlyfuji, @luffy0s, @michakune

[kinkyniragi]

Currently writing and asking you...

Thank you so much for all your likes and reblogs of my Tommy fics ❤️🙏🏻

Let me know what you like to read next!

Here are some details about my WIPs:

Until the debt is paid: As payment for your father’s debt, you’ve been handed over to Thomas Shelby—a ruthless criminal with a reputation as dangerous as his smirk. Any hope for a swift resolution crumbles, leaving you entirely at his mercy. A hostage. A pawn in a game whose rules only he knows.

His whore: You have just started your job as a receptionist in a gentlemen's establishment when Thomas Shelby walks in and wants to use your services…

Truth or Dare: Your friend Ada takes you to one of Tommy’s infamous parties. She talks you into playing Truth or Dare, and before you know it, you confess your secret desire—to be fucked dumb by Tommy. It’s only then, far too late, that you realize he’s been listening all along…

[graysparrowao3]

i'm thinking. Maybe Rolan is in heat. And the infuriatingly flirty and handsome Zhent guy who keeps trying to get discounts might be populating Rolan's horny thoughts. Maybe Rolan asks this Rugan guy if he'd like a...ah, mission. a very special mission that would imply them locked into Rolan's room for three days

Oh ho ho, what a message! Well this is new for me! You sure are thinking thoughts... Thank you for sharing them! ... Now I'm thinking them too...

Interesting… two of my favourite blorbos, conveniently in such an improper situation…🤔 Hope you don’t mind, I had a play around with how such a discussion might go. Hopefully it's got the same sort of vibes you were thinking too!

Summary: Rugan wants a discount. Rolan wants release. They come to an agreement.

Words: 1,108

Very suggestive, not outright explicit.

A bead of sweat laced down Rolan’s neck and tickled as it slid beneath his collar. He tried to adjust the fabric, but little good it did. He was burning from the inside out, infernal resistance be damned.

His entire damn body was pulsing in knots; a bottled up rolling thunder threatening to detonate. Instead of having the company or decency to take care of it, he was trying desperately to concentrate through the steam in his head and take stock and procure items and take payments. Then a figure appeared at the entrance of Sorcerous Sundries; sandy hair tied back and an infuriatingly charming smile pulling at the lines around his crystal eyes.

Just who he did not need to be putting up with right now.

The human strode through the wide, open double doors like his balls hardly fit and deposited himself at the counter, lounging against it and ignoring the fact that Rolan was still finishing a transaction with another customer.

“Y’alright, gorgeous,” Rugan winked.

Rolan blew frustrated air from his nostrils as he completed the exchange and cast his eyes sideways over to the annoyingly handsome interruption. “I suppose you imagine that might actually work one of these days?”

“You are a tease,” Rugan clicked his tongue. “Go on, be an absolute gem and do us a favour.”

“I’m not sorry to say I shan’t. Are you actually going to be making a purchase this time or shall we skip forward to the part where I demand your swift departure?”

Rugan made a show of patting the firm sides of his waist. “Alas, I seem to find myself tragically short in the coin department.”

“I’ll attempt not to be overcome with disbelief,” Rolan muttered, letting his eyes linger far too long where the human’s fingers rested on his lean body, dangerously close to the tempting creases where his thighs met his groin. “I see you are once again under a misconception that this is not a place of business where goods and services are available for purchase.”

Noting the direction of the wizard’s gaze, Rugan’s own eyes narrowed as he studied the tiefling. The desperate glisten on his skin, the hungry flare in his eyes, the awkward shifting between his feet to hide the discomfort of his need. Oh, now this he could work with.

Rugan let his tongue wet his lips as his lilting voice danced indecently across the space between them. “Looks to me like I’m not the one in need of said goods and services.”

“I’ve no idea what you could possibly mean,” Rolan said dismissively.

“Now I could be wrong,” Rugan’s voice lowered as he leaned over the counter, “but something tells me you’ve need of a man well-versed in his trade.”

Rolan raked his eyes up and down the worn leather and tight straps that outlined the human’s body. He didn’t realize the tip of tongue also flickered across his lips. “You are a mercenary of some description?”

“Aye,” Rugan lip pulled into a lopsided smile. “Let’s go with that.”

“Then I’ve had more than enough of you and your compatriots.” Rolan snapped his head towards the open doors of the establishment, and Rugan followed his sightline. 

In the courtyard outside some loud gobshite with a rat’s nest on his head wouldn’t shut up about the song of the night or some such rubbish. Rugan shook his disapproving head. He turned back to the wizard and gestured with his hand to emphasize his point. “What you need is a professional.”

“If only there were such a thing in this Godsforsaken city.” Rolan’s tongue hung deliciously on the sibilance.

“You’re in luck,” Rugan rolled his shoulders and braced himself on the counter in a way that made his biceps strain against the material of his sleeves and his chest press against the leather. “A consummate professional. At your service.”

Rolan indiscreetly adjusted his robes. “What I want would be a paying customer.”

“Said I don’t have the coin,” Rugan stared up, his bright eyes meeting the fire in Rolan's. An obscene smirk could be heard in his voice. “Didn’t say I wouldn’t pay.”

A deep maroon flared across Rolan’s cheekbones and he turned away. He covered his flush of flaring need with a cough, missing the smirk that flashed across Rugan’s face. When the wizard turned back, he paused, one nail tapping incessantly on the counter surface.

“Perhaps…" Rolan said, slowly. "I could find a task for you. A contract, if you like. Unofficial. Unaffiliated with Sorcerous business.”

An indecent smile grew on Rugan’s lips. “Now you’re talking. Always best when things are on the smart side of official.”

“I could…” Rolan cleared his throat, then raised his chin to maintain some essence of dignity. “Use a hand. Personal matters.”

The way one of Rugan’s brows raised in a suggestive curve was not subtle. “You don’t say?”

“I imagine a professional might find other suitable ways to go about it.”

“Oh, I imagine you’re right about that.” The Zhentarim agent’s wicked grin broadened.

“Then we’re in agreement. In exchange for a selection of items of your choosing,” Rolan swallowed. “You will… assist me.”

“I can only imagine what such a notable purveyor of his craft might need assisting with,” Rugan let an elbow rest on the counter and leant his chin on his fist as he crooned across it. “Consider me your dutiful apprentice.”

Rolan imagined he’d be calling the man a great many things in the near future, though that would not be among them. He found the sharp attitude that often clipped his voice, a flare of arrogance to cover his indignity. “I'm quite the particular employer, I expect your undivided attention. It may take some time.”

Rugan reached forward and hooked a finger under the cool, silver curve of Rolan’s mantle. He jerked it down, forcing the wizard’s head towards his. Rugan leaned close, his tone low and gruff as his rough cheek grazed against the tiefling. “It’ll take as long as I say it will.”

Rolan’s face burned as he was released from the Zhent’s grip, a hand instinctively against his heaving chest, desire hard between his legs. He blinked for breath, then turned around and called out across the echoing chamber of Sorcerous Sundries. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are closing immediately. Management does apologize but you must depart the building at once.”

The patrons had not quite all left when an impatient, stern hand smacked firm onto Rolan’s backside.

“Hope you’re as tightly wound as you look, sunshine,” Rugan’s breath was hot on his ear. “Because I’ve got one hell of a shopping list.”

[darkmaga-returns]

A disagreement between America and Europe on reducing low impact Russia sanctions may have big consequences for peace talks on Ukraine. Tariff wars will only complicate matters. President Trump may need to weigh in to break the deadlock.

For the first time since the Ukraine crisis bubbled up in 2014, a split has emerged within the Western alliance on sanctions policy towards Russia. U.S.-brokered peace talks in Saudi Arabia late last month edged Russia and Ukraine closer to reviving a 2022 Black Sea grain deal through a maritime ceasefire. However, what promised to be a helpful, small step forward became hijacked by European and Ukrainian efforts to block minor concessions to Russia.

As part of the proposed revival of a maritime ceasefire, a European spokesperson was quick to shut down suggestions that Russia might receive sanctions relief. At the Paris Summit of the coalition of the willing on March 26, European leaders and President Zelensky weighed in further, calling for no sanctions relief for Russia, repeating the line that more sanctions are key to bringing Putin to the negotiating table.

[justanotherrpmeme]

You Have Outlived Your Usefulness starters

"You've served your purpose, [name]. It's time to clear the board."

"Your usefulness has reached its limit. I hope you enjoyed your brief moment of significance."

"You were a means to an end, nothing more. Now, your end has arrived."

"Don't get sentimental. Loyalty is a weakness, and you've outlived your usefulness."

"You were a pawn, and now the game has changed. Time to eliminate the excess pieces."

"Your role is concluded, [name]. I trust you understand the implications."

"You thought you were indispensable? How quaint. Your usefulness has an expiration date."

"In this grand scheme, your part is over. No need for unnecessary complications."

"I appreciate your service, but appreciation doesn't guarantee survival."

"Your tenure in my service was, regrettably, short-lived. Farewell, [name]."

"You played your part adequately, but the show must go on without you."

"Remember, [name], you were a tool. Tools get discarded when the job is done."

"You were a means to an end, and now that end includes disposing of you."

"Your role was pivotal, but now it's time to cut ties. Permanently."

"As the curtains fall on your usefulness, so does the curtain on your life."

"I hope you savor the irony. Your success led to your demise."

"No need for prolonged goodbyes. Your purpose fulfilled, your existence is irrelevant."

"Your chapter in my story has ended. Time to close the book, [name]."

"I trust you comprehend the finality of your contribution. It's time for an exit."

"You served your purpose, and now it's time to dispose of the excess baggage."

[EXECUTION] The sender raises their weapon, prepared to execute the receiver without a hint of remorse.

[SWIFT] The moment the receiver completes their mission, the sender turns on them, catching them off guard.

[DISMISSAL] The sender, with a cold expression, signals their guards to remove the receiver from the equation permanently.

[BACKSTABBING] The sender, expecting reward, is instead met with a swift backstab from the receiver.

[AMBUSH] In a calculated move, the sender stages an unexpected ambush on the receiver, catching them defenseless.

[MISSION] The receiver is given a seemingly impossible final mission, setting them up for a deliberate failure and subsequent elimination.

[PUNISHED] The receiver's unwavering loyalty is met with betrayal as the sender deems them expendable.

[PAYMENT] The sender, expecting a reward for their service, receives a lethal payment instead.

[UNSEEN] The sender, thinking they're safe, is unaware of the unseen threat that will soon end their life.

[eastnetsblogs]

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Let’s find out the three significant advantages of using a SWIFT Bureau hosting service.

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This software has built-in cloud-based features that allow banks to get connected with more than 10,000 institutions completely secured. Additionally, you can connect with those institutions that are located in remote areas without any interruptions.

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One of the major concerns of the banking sector is the disaster recovery of their invaluable data. Here, the software can instantly recover your business data and ensure that the SWIFT operation is working uninterruptedly. Furthermore, it will offer robust monitoring of the entire infrastructure in real time to prevent any fraudulent financial transactions.

In a Nutshell

If you are interested in integrating this system into your financial business, contact a renowned company that specializes in cloud-based SWIFT bureau hosting software. Before choosing the product, ensure it has all those features that can provide the aforementioned advantages such as comprehensive connectivity, reliable security, complete access to more than 10,000 institutions, and so on.

[papapapo]

Cardinal Cupich: USAID freeze ‘Could actually cause death’

U.S. President Trump’s executive order halting congressionally appropriated foreign assistance effectively shut down the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The archbishop of Chicago reflects on this decision and on how it will jeopardize essential service for hundreds of millions of people.

By Cardinal Blase J. Cupich

Over the course of just a few weeks, the new administration suddenly halted foreign aid for 90 days, making dramatic cuts in funding and staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development. This has thrown the network of charities that administer our global humanitarian aid, including those funded by Catholics, into chaos. There is a human cost to acting so precipitously, which is partly why on Feb. 13, a federal judge ordered the administration to restore funding, given the “likelihood of a successful claim that the Executive’s actions violate the Constitution and statutes of the United States.”

While a government has the right and duty to ensure taxpayer funds are spent wisely, freezing that aid, even before any such review, adds to the suffering of people who are starving, homeless and threatened by disease. While the government announced that lifesaving aid work would be exempt, these exemptions are not being effectively implemented. A crippled USAID is not making timely payments for past and current work in these life-saving programs, perhaps causing permanent damage to the ability of humanitarian aid groups to save lives.

This is one of the reasons the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed suit against the administration on Feb. 18. “The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status,” explained USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio. The USCCB, which “spends more on refugee resettlement each year than it receives in funding from the federal government,” according to the lawsuit, is still waiting for reimbursements from the government totaling about $13 million for expenses prior to Jan. 24.

The decision to abruptly slash USAID funding brought swift responses from the international community, including the Holy See:

“Stopping USAID will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people, undermine decades of progress in humanitarian and development assistance, destabilize regions that rely on this critical support, and condemn millions to dehumanizing poverty or even death,” according to a statement from Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief agencies, which operate in more than 200 nations and territories.

The effect of these funding cuts has been staggering for both small and larger charities, such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the foreign-aid program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, founded in 1943.

Carolyn Woo, who ran CRS from 2012 to 2016, and once served as dean of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, offers a chilling assessment: “The freeze [on foreign aid],” she told Our Sunday Visitor, “where it affects programs like this, really puts people’s health, livelihood on the line, and it could actually cause death.”

That’s because every year, CRS provides aid to about 210 million people across 120 nations — and, as Woo writes in a Feb. 7 piece in America, more than half of its budget has come from USAID contracts. Cut a charity’s budget in half, and you halve the amount of help it can provide.

What sort of help does CRS offer? Back to Woo: “USAID grants enable CRS to undertake emergency assistance and long-term transformational development. The work covers and integrates multiple areas for human flourishing: food, health, livelihoods, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, child development, access to capital and peace-building.”

This complex work is not simply a handout, but a hand-up. Woo recalls the story of Ernesto, a farmer who found himself destitute after years of costs outstripping returns on crop sales. With the help of CRS, the farmer learned to farm a new crop sustainably, and with that first return, he was able to set himself on the path to financial stability. Soon he began teaching other farmers these methods and even saved enough to send his children to college. This program was funded by a grant from USAID.

Some claim that hobbling USAID was necessary because it is “wasteful.” Woo addresses that, too, explaining that over the past three decades, global poverty has dropped from one-third of the population to one-tenth, made possible by international development aid. What’s more, Woo notes, “both maternal and infant-child mortality rates have dropped by 50 percent.” For anyone who prioritizes life issues, it’s hard to imagine a better return on an investment, considering that USAID counts for less than 1% of the federal budget.

But the humanitarian crisis occasioned by these unsparing cuts is also a crisis of trust — trust in the United States of America, in its ability to keep its word and honor its promises. Such a loss of trust could have dire consequences.

This was immediately highlighted by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop emeritus of Vienna. In a recent column referring to the cancellation of contracts, the cardinal writes, “What is currently happening in the United States is dangerous.”

“Contracts govern large parts of our lives,” the cardinal continues. “The rule of law thrives on the fact that treaties apply.” When agreements are broken, “the powerful dictate their will, no matter what is contractually agreed.”

 “Loyalty and faith, trust and security, and above all the weaker, poorer, and defenseless are falling by the wayside,” Cardinal Schönborn goes on, asking a simple but searing question: “Do we want that?”

The “we” of it matters. For any nation, foreign aid is an expression of strategic wisdom. A world with less human suffering is by definition a safer world. A world in which nations keep their agreements is one in which development has a better chance of success. The path to improving the human condition leads not inward, but rather out from ourselves, from our enclaves and nations, toward lasting international partnership and the authentic flourishing of the human family.

Finally, foreign humanitarian aid is also, more deeply, an expression of a nation’s values. American values still include caring for the less fortunate, standing up for the oppressed and building long-term peace through solidarity. The United States expressed American values when it helped Europe rebuild after the devastation of World War II — this is our legacy as a nation, and it is one we must never abandon.

 As Christians, we follow the Lord’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves, even when it’s hard. But there is a less spiritual calculus to consider: namely, that weakening the social safety net at home or abroad will eventually affect us all, as none of us is invulnerable to disease or misfortune, no matter how blessed with health or wealth. America would be wise not to overreach the extent of her power in a connected world. After all, we never know when we’ll need the help of a Good Samaritan.

This article was reprinted with permission from Chicago Catholic, the English language newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here

[sunshinegallery]

Demidash: your swift to door delivery service for all missing items payment: do not smite (negotiable)

don't live near the entrence to Olympus

[hisaribi]

Listen, all the "pls donate our verified campaign" bots, please, stop sending me asks

I don't trust you, I have no mental capacity to check you, and I don't want my followers feeling obliged to do anything, I also don't have any way to go to your donation services, let alone send you any payments, because my country was cut off from swift like almost two years ago? We have to jump loops to do anything dealing with abroad

I'm blocking everyone who writes an ask about that

Have a nice day

[i-am-vita]

Bogard's Sexy Spy Wife Headcanons

👉 My Masterlist, Oc Ghost Rose Masterlist

Watching the episodes of the Diary of Koby-Meppo gave me ideas 🤭

In my other headcanon where Ghost Rose chooses Bogard (read: Someone who loves you, sequel soon... I hope), they've been married for a while by the start of the show (anime, manga or LA) and is their main intel dealer and contact with the Phantom Pirates.

Those are their faces with every Bogard and Ghost Rose interaction before finding out they're married. They gossip about if she's some femme fatale spy/pirate that sells intel to the Marine in exchange of dubious favors. Bogard chastising them with a glare for being noisy about his personal life will never not be funny.

She always knows where to find the HQ-3 even when Bogard don't tell her. SPECIALLY the times when Bogard insists her to not look for him for the safety of whatever mission they are in.

It drives him crazy (but loves it secretly). Garp thinks it's hilarious.

When they arrived at headquarters for Koby and Helmeppo's training, she appeared briefly to smooch her husband and inform them of something regarding Dragons' last appearance and Baroque Works.

Yes, Garp is always aware of his son's whereabouts and does shit about it. He just wants to know if he's safe and asked her to keep him informed. She just wants an excuse to see her husband out of his leave days. Win win.

They where in the middle of sword training when, suddenly, Bogard halted the cadet's swords and disarmed them with a movement to immediately direct his attention to a point behind the Vice Admiral. A rare smile adorned his face leaving his apprentices stunned.

They turned in unison to see what on the four blues would be able to put a smile on their instructor's face. Their jaws practically drop to the floor.

Perched on a rock behind Garp was a most beautiful woman with tanned skin and long wavy hair, dressed in a fitting black dress.

"What? A chicken shited my head?" Asked Garp before turning around. "Ah, it's you," he commented upon seeing the woman behind him.

She's probably the only person in all the blues capable of sneak behind Garp without notice.

"You said you wanted to know as soon as posible when your man of interest was in the move," said the mysterious visitor before lowering her voice to murmur in the Vice Admiral's ear. "He was seen in Loguetown saving a certain Strawhat kid..."

"Ma'am, I don't know who you are, but these are the Marine Headquarters and the presence of non-military personnel is forbidden," Koby interrumpted naively.

Rose blinked several times before start gigling. Garp cackled loudly. Bogard's crooked smiled broadened.

"Ohhh, sweet summer child," she cooed.

"Ah, well, you're pro'bly gonna see more of her in the future," mumbled Garp. "This is Ghost Rose, Rose for short, our main informant, keeps me updated on tha Grand Line news."

"But... Doesn't the Marine has its own intel network for that?" asked a confused Helmeppo.

"Bah... A bunch of witless fools who wouldn't find a fish in a puddle..."

"I don't think the saying goes like that..."

"My own intel network is foolproof!"

"... Is that even legal?"

"... Probably not," admited the Vice Admiral.

Koby and Helmeppo looked at each other dumbfounded. Which kind of morally dubious lunatic did they ended with?

"Now, if you don't mind, Vice Admiral, I'll take my payment for the service," Rose said in a tone that indicated she didn't care about Garp's minding it at all.

In a swift and fast movement, she advanced past Koby and Helmeppo towards Bogard and surrounded him with her arms to take his lips with hers in a passionate kiss. His free arm surrounded her smaller form to lift her up to his taller frame.

Koby and Helmeppo froze from the shock of witnessing their stoic instructor in the receiving end of such a public display of afection.

"Hey! Do not mess World Government property," grumbled Garp witnessing the path of red lipstick left by Ghost Rose on his Second's cheeks and jaw.

"I missed you, mi amor," she murmured lovingly to his ear.

"Forgive me, cara mia, we got sidetracked in the East Blue," Bogard answered in the same soft tone.

"So I heard. Did the Baroque Works' clue led to something?"

"Yes, half of a corpse and a black business card."

For their part, and not being privy to the couple's private talk, the cadets' imagination was running wild with this new information.

"Is it me or is the Vice Admiral paying under-the-table for illegal intel with sexual favors from Bo-san?" Murmured Helmeppo to Koby's ear, to the everlasting embarrassment of the pinkhaired cadet.

"That's too much, Helmeppo. It's just a kiss. Maybe she's just into Bo-san and likes to joke about it..."

"He doesn't look too bothered about it," continued the blonde like he hadn't listened to his friend. "Do you think Garp has had to pay similarly in the past?"

Both boys shudered at the mental image of considering Garp in that situation too.

"Yeah, yeah... Cut it off, you two," grunted Garp making Koby and Helmeppo to scare jump into standing at attention. "Got something useful about that Baroque Works this time?"

"Excuse me! Do you know how hard was to discover that one lead? Whoever they are, these people are good at covering they tracks... but yes, we got something. Seems like someone stirred the hive recently because now we are finding rumors everywhere..."

Koby and Helmeppo tried to follow the conversation to no avail, too distracted by Bogard's interaction with the beautiful spy. Her back was comfortable leaning over the officer's front, his arm still around her waist, their fingers intertwined.

The trail of red kiss marks over his face was so offputting...

"I guess that's my cue to leave," Rose finally said.

Bogard's expression soured immediately and his arm tighten around her before lettting go.

"Be careful, rosa mia," Bogard whispered in his wife's hair, taking a last breathe of her fragance.

"Always." Rose turned around to give her husband a last kiss. "Garp is going to owe me a month of you after this," she added out loud. Wink, wink.

The cadets blushed profusely at the implications of that last comment.

Koby and Helmeppo's minds blew even more when they eventually discovered Bogard is married.

On a particularly slow day, when they were doing some meditation to teach the cadets the importance of a clear mind and control over their emotions, Helmeppo dared to open an eye and almost fell backwards.

The three had dodge their respective uniforms for some confortable yukatas. Bogard was sit in front of them and Helmeppo noticed a golden chain over his clothes. Hanging from it was an unmistakable wedding ring.

That night, the blond confided to Koby his discovery, so they could be scandalized together at their superiors appaled behaviour. Garp for offering his Second for those services and Bogard for allow it while being married.

It would be some weeks and several encounters with Ghost Rose (she's deeply oppose to stay away from her husband for more than a week and mostly succeeds, Garp can cope and Bogard won't complain) until they learn she IS Bogard's wife and not a random femme fatale spy going around the Grand Line selling intel in exchange of dubious favors from married marines.

"You could've just asked me if you had those doubts," suggested Garp.

"It's not of their business," added Bogard grumpily.

Rose just laugh and made sure to leave a visibly red kiss on the cadets' cheeks every time they concur since then.

.

[beardedmrbean]

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed at first reading a bill amending the Payment Services and Payment Systems Act, aimed at aligning the country’s legal framework with eurozone requirements. The changes, proposed by the Council of Ministers, were backed by 122 MPs, with 39 voting against, BTA reported. The legislation adjusts national rules for payment oversight and services in anticipation of Bulgaria’s euro adoption.

The amendments were supported by GERB, "We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), DPS – "New Beginning," BSP – United Left, DPS-Dogan and "There Is Such a People" (TISP). Altogether, these parties hold 184 seats - more than three-quarters of the total, a parliamentary majority sufficient not only for such legislation but also for major constitutional decisions, including electing members of the Supreme Judicial Council or initiating constitutional amendments via the fast-track procedure.

All these parties campaigned on a platform favoring swift accession to the eurozone. While the BSP has shown some hesitation, even without their votes the remaining pro-euro factions number 165 MPs - more than two-thirds of parliament - still enough to pass constitutional changes via the standard track or select members for key institutions.

Notably, Article 103, paragraph 2 of the Constitution allows the impeachment of the president with a two-thirds majority. In theory, the current pro-euro coalition would have the numbers to initiate such proceedings, highlighting the scale of support for Bulgaria’s European path within the legislature. This stands in contrast to President Rumen Radev’s repeated calls for a referendum on euro adoption - an initiative he justifies by citing the will of the people.

This parliamentary configuration reflects a consistent trend. Over the past few years, Bulgaria has gone through seven rounds of elections, each yielding similar results - firm backing from the majority of parties for continued integration with the EU.

Opposing the current changes were "Revival," MECH, and "Greatness," who voted against the proposed revisions to the law on payment services.

The draft law includes a number of technical modifications to prepare for the transition to the euro. This involves updating various legal texts to replace values expressed in leva with their euro equivalents, as required by EU regulations. One of the key elements is the incorporation of Regulation (EU) 2024/886, which sets common standards for instant euro credit transfers across EU member states. A formal definition of "instant credit transfer" is also introduced in the legislation.

Additionally, the amendments ensure Bulgaria’s compliance with the rules of the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET). The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will operate the national component of the TARGET system (TARGET-BNB), and once the euro is introduced, the current BNB-operated RINGS settlement system will be discontinued. Provisions are included for repealing the relevant sections of the law accordingly.

The law also proposes changes to basic payment accounts, particularly for pensioners, students, and doctoral candidates. Users of such accounts will be allowed to make up to three credit transfers per month - via bank branches or online - as well as three cash withdrawals through ATMs or POS terminals of their servicing bank, without incurring fees.

[mariacallous]

As Donald Trump’s administration continues its relentless reorganization of the United States federal government, documents obtained by WIRED showed this week that the Department of Defense is looking at cutting as much as three-quarters of its workforce that’s specifically focused on stopping proliferation of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the US Army is using its “CamoGPT” AI tool to “review” diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies per Trump administration orders. The military originally developed the AI service to improve productivity and operational readiness.

US civil liberties organizations are pushing the director of national intelligence. Tulsi Gabbard, to declassify details about Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—a central overseas wiretap authority that is notorious for also capturing a large number of calls, texts, and emails made or sent by Americans. And the US Justice Department on Wednesday charged 10 alleged hackers and two Chinese government officials over digital crimes spanning more than a decade as part of China’s extensive hack-for-hire ecosystem.

Ongoing analysis from a consortium of researchers led by Human Security found that at least a million low-price Android devices, like TV streaming boxes and tablets, have been compromised as part of a scamming and ad fraud campaign known as Badbox 2.0. The activity, which the researchers say comes out of China, is an evolution of a previous effort to backdoor similar devices.

And there's more. Each week, we round up the security and privacy news we didn’t cover in depth ourselves. Click the headlines to read the full stories. And stay safe out there.

Cybercriminals Allegedly Used a Backdoor to Steal Taylor Swift Tickets

Two people who allegedly worked as part of a group to access nearly 1,000 tickets to concerts and other events—many for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour—before selling them on for more than $600,000 profit were arrested and charged with the potential crimes in Queens this week. Tyrone Rose, 20, and Shamara P. Simmons, 31, of Jamaica, Queens, were arrested and arraigned in connection to the theft and sales, according to Queens district attorney Melinda Katz.

Between June 2022 and July 2023, it is alleged that 350 orders—totaling 993 tickets—on ticketing platform StubHub were accessed at a third-party contractor called Sutherland. “The Sutherland employees, defendant Tyrone Rose and an unapprehended accomplice, allegedly used their access to StubHub’s computer system to find a backdoor into a secure area of the network where already sold tickets were given a URL and queued to be emailed to the purchaser to download,” the district attorney’s office wrote in a statement.

They then emailed URLs to another accomplice who has since died, the office says, before posting the tickets to StubHub for resale. While the investigations are ongoing, the District Attorney’s office claimed the proceeds of the cybercrime totaled around $635,000 and also involved tickets for Ed Sheeran concerts, NBA games, and the US Open Tennis Championships.

Payment Provider Linked to ‘Largest Illicit Online Marketplace’ Loses Banking License

Every year, criminals make billions from the operations of highly organized scam compounds in Southeast Asia. As these operations have grown in sophistication, so has the wider ecosystem that supplies them with the technology and services needed to run the scams. And experts say there’s no bigger marketplace than Huione Guarantee—a Cambodian gray market selling scam services that researchers claim has facilitated more than $24 billion in transactions.

This week, according to a report by Radio Free Asia, the banking arm of Huione Guarantee’s parent company, Huione Group, had its financial license suspended by officials in Cambodia. According to the report, the Huione Pay service had its license withdrawn for failing to comply with “existing regulations.” The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and crypto tracing firm Elliptic previously had linked money moving through Huione Pay to cyberscamming. “They are willing facilitators of pig butchering and other fraud, so any regulatory action against them should be welcomed,” Elliptic founder Tom Robinson claimed to Radio Free Asia.

Russian Cryptocurrency Exchange Garantex Taken Down in Law Enforcement Action

The US Department of Justice announced an operation this week with Germany and Finland to disrupt the digital infrastructure behind notorious Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. For years, the platform has allegedly been used for money laundering and other criminal transactions, including sanctions evasion. The DOJ claimed in its announcement that “transnational criminal organizations—including terrorist organizations” have utilized the exchange. Law enforcement said that the platform has processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since April 2019. US authorities said they froze over $26 million in funds used to facilitate money laundering as part of the Garantex takedown.

Scammers Are Impersonating Notorious Ransomware Attackers to Extort Targets

The FBI warned this week that scammers pretending to be attackers from the BianLian ransomware gang are demanding ransoms from corporate executives in the US. The demands include claims that the group has breached a company’s network and threaten to publish sensitive information unless a target pays up. Such criminal digital extortion is common enough that scammers apparently feel that they can plausibly make the claims and intimidate targets without even attacking them. The FBI says that the scammers’ ransom demands say that they come from BianLian and range from $250,000 to $500,000 payable via a QR code that links to a Bitcoin wallet. The real BianLian group has links to Russia and has targeted US critical infrastructure since June 2022, according to a November alert from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.