From bricklayer to 007: Sean Connery enjoyed 50 year film career but he will undoubtedly be remembered as the first – and some say definitive – James Bond

A poignant last photo of James Bond legend Sir Sean Connery, who has died in his sleep at the age of 90, showed him posing with his son Jason.

The photo showed the Oscar-winning actor giving a half-smile and raising his finger in the air as he sat between his son and his son’s partner Fiona Upton on his 89th birthday last year. 

Tributes have been pouring in for the Oscar-winning actor who passed away in the Bahamas and leaves behind his wife Micheline and sons Jason and Stefan. 

A statement from Sir Sean’s publicist said: ‘His wife Micheline and his two sons, Jason and Stephane, have confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family.

‘There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial yet to be planned once the virus has ended.’

Jason told the BBC: ‘We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time.

‘A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.’

Sir Sean, whose movie career spans five decades, is best known for being the first to portray the role of British fictional spy 007 who he played between 1962–1971. 

He was today hailed as ‘the world’s greatest Scot and last of the real Hollywood stars’ as the acting community and beyond rallied to remember him. 

Through the official James Bond Twitter page, the incumbent 007 Craig said: ‘Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster.

‘He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.’One of the last pictures of Sir Sean shows him with his son Jason, who said today: 'We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time'

One of the last pictures of Sir Sean shows him with his son Jason, who said today: ‘We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time’Tributes have been pouring in for the Oscar-winning actor who passed away in the Bahamas and leaves behind his wife Micheline and sons Jason and Stefan. Pictured: Connery as Bond in Dr No

Continue reading “From bricklayer to 007: Sean Connery enjoyed 50 year film career but he will undoubtedly be remembered as the first – and some say definitive – James Bond”

Дело Эпштейна: Надя Марчинкова, летчица

Paris Match | Publié le 31/10/2020 Aurélie Raya

Nadia Marcinkova, en tenue de commandant de bord, devant un Gulfstream, pour la promotion de sa société Aviloop
Надя Марцинкова, в костюме капитана, перед Gulfstream, рекламирует свою компанию Aviloop

На борту “Лолита-экспресс” Джеффри Эпштейна она везла добычу финансиста на его Карибский остров.  Подросток находится в депрессии. Ей 14 лет. Психологу в своей школе в Палм-Бич она рассказывает, как получила 300 долларов, найденных в ее бумажнике, благодаря эротическому массажу, которого требовал некий Джеффри Эпштейн… Это 2005 год. Начинается расследование. Полицейские собирают около тридцати обличительных показаний других девушек, часто несовершеннолетних. Затем всплывает имя Нади Марчинковой. Элисон (имя изменено) случайно арестованная за пакетик марихуаны, рассказывает полиции, что она ходит в дом этого Эпштейна с 16 лет. Она описывает хорошо отлаженную систему. “Джеффри Эпштейн платил ей и давал ей указания во время секса между ней и ее подругой Надей Марчинковой. Эпштейн наблюдал, как они пользуются секс игрушками и мастурбируют. Иногда он присоединялся к ним. […] Эпштейн фотографировал занятия любовью Марцинкова и Элисон, а затем расклеивал снимки по дому”, – отмечает детектив.

Continue reading “Дело Эпштейна: Надя Марчинкова, летчица”

Russian woman who was identified as key source in Trump’s ‘golden shower’ dossier denies links to the infamous report, as she’s pictured for the first time

  • Olga Galkina, from Russia, was identified as a key source in the dossier by British counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele 
  • His report alleged Russian influence over Trump and contained salacious information about his reported conduct in a Moscow hotel room 
  • Galkina, 40, is a former employee of Kremlin-owned state media
  • She is pictured for the first time in exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com
  • On Friday, she used her former state-owned media employer RIA Novosti on Friday to deny claims she was a key source in Steele’s report  
  • She said: ‘My mood is rather low because I did not expect this story at all and, of course, it complicated (my life) quite a lot’
  • She claimed the allegations that she was a Steele source were ‘not true’, but gave little more detail 
  • Galkina was linked to the dossier this week and was described by The Wall Street Journal as a ‘disgruntled PR executive’ living in Cyprus
  • Two foreign news outlets said she was behind a personal blog that boasted of nudity and palm reading, however there was no clear proof

By Will Stewart In Moscow For Dailymail.com

A Russian woman identified as a key source in the dossier by British counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele dossier is a former employee of Kremlin-owned state media.

Steele’s infamous report was leaked weeks before Trump’s inauguration, alleging Russian influence over him and contained salacious information about his reported conduct in a Moscow hotel room during the Miss Universe pageant.

Olga Galkina, 40, was linked to the dossier this week and was described by The Wall Street Journal as a ‘disgruntled PR executive’ living in Cyprus.

And while some people who know Galkina claim she’s maverick who was unlikely to have access to secrets, others suggested she was well-connected. 

Now, shown in exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, Galkina came forward on Friday to deny claims she was a key source in the Steele dossier. 

She used her former state-owned media employer RIA Novosti to say in a statement: ‘My mood is rather low because I did not expect this story at all and, of course, it complicated (my life) quite a lot.’

Olga Galkina, from Russia, was identified as a key source in the dossier by British counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele

Olga Galkina, from Russia, was identified as a key source in the dossier by British counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele

Olga Galkina, 40, was linked to the dossier this week and was described by The Wall Street Journal as a 'disgruntled PR executive' living in Cyprus

Olga Galkina, 40, was linked to the dossier this week and was described by The Wall Street Journal as a 'disgruntled PR executive' living in Cyprus

Olga Galkina, 40, was linked to the dossier this week and was described by The Wall Street Journal as a ‘disgruntled PR executive’ living in Cyprus

Christopher Steele’s (pictured) infamous report was leaked weeks before Trump’s inauguration, alleging Russian influence over himThe infamous dossier also contained salacious information about Trump's alleged conduct in a Moscow hotel room during the Miss Universe pageant

The infamous dossier also contained salacious information about Trump’s alleged conduct in a Moscow hotel room during the Miss Universe pageant

She claimed the allegations that she was a Steele source were ‘not true’, but gave little detail.

However, she did admit to knowing her former school friend Igor Danchenko, 42, who the WSJ claimed had recruited her into intelligence gathering for the former MI6 spy.

‘We studied at the same school, but the thing is that after that he went to work and study in America,’ she said.

‘And we haven’t seen each other for a long time. This is the thing… The story is that we were friends. And he was helping me.’

She worked as a journalist for state-funded RIA Novosti, working at the Russian parliament between 2003-05.

More than a decade ago she also worked for Rosbalt, a news outlet run by Natalya Cherkesova (Chaplina), wife of ex-security services high-ranking member Viktor Cherkesov, a Putin associate.

Galkina attracts startlingly different descriptions in her homeland.

In a varied career she was also a PR executive for Russia’s environmental and nuclear watchdog Rostekhnadzor, which she left in 2011, around the time she moved to Cyprus.

In Cyprus, DailyMail.com was told by her acquaintances she was ‘intelligent and professional’, a woman who always looked ‘well-polished’, although she is now believed to have moved back to Russia. However, she did admit to knowing her former school friend Igor Danchenko, 42, (pictured) who the WSJ claimed had recruited her into intelligence gathering for the former MI6 spy. 'We studied at the same school, but the thing is that after that he went to work and study in America,' she said

However, she did admit to knowing her former school friend Igor Danchenko, 42, (pictured) who the WSJ claimed had recruited her into intelligence gathering for the former MI6 spy. ‘We studied at the same school, but the thing is that after that he went to work and study in America,’ she saidShe worked as a journalist for state-funded RIA Novosti, working at the Russian parliament between 2003-05. More than a decade ago she also worked for Rosbalt, a news outlet run by Natalya Cherkesova (Chaplina), wife of ex-security services high-ranking member Viktor Cherkesov, a Putin associate

She worked as a journalist for state-funded RIA Novosti, working at the Russian parliament between 2003-05. More than a decade ago she also worked for Rosbalt, a news outlet run by Natalya Cherkesova (Chaplina), wife of ex-security services high-ranking member Viktor Cherkesov, a Putin associateGalkina is seen as implicating the firm in a Russian secret services-sponsored bid hacking Democratic Party servers to collect damaging material on 2016 presidential election candidate Hillary Clinton

Galkina is seen as implicating the firm in a Russian secret services-sponsored bid hacking Democratic Party servers to collect damaging material on 2016 presidential election candidate Hillary Clinton

Russian businessman loses libel battle against Christopher Steele for claims in his Trump ‘dirty dossier’

Aleksej Gubarev

Aleksej Gubarev

On Friday, Russian businessman  Aleksej Gubarev lost his libel battle against ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele whose ‘dirty dossier’ on Donald Trump implicated him in hacking the Democrats in 2016.  

Gubarev sued Steele for ‘seriously defamatory allegations’ that he had ‘knowing involvement’ in the DNC computer hack during the US election.

But a London judge ruled Gubarev did not prove Steele was responsible for the report’s publication and so could not be made to pay damages.

Central accusations made in the dossier, which was funded by the Democrats, have been roundly rubbished and were largely thrown out by the Mueller report. 

It was published by Buzzfeed News website in 2017 and contained outlandish claims of Trump hiring prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room as well as allegations of Russian collusion with the Republican candidate’s campaign.  

Gubarev and his company Webzilla took legal action against Steele and his intelligence company Orbis Business Intelligence after the dossier was published.

But her former boss in the marketing department at XBT Holding, Alexey Trankov, claimed: ‘She (Olga Galkina) has long been in need of medical assistance….

‘Of course, I’m not a doctor to give diagnoses, but I just want to say that she needs a doctor.’

Around the time she allegedly helped Steele in 2016, she became locked in a dispute with Aleksej Gubarev, owner of XBT Holding SA web-services company behind the Webzilla internet hosting unit. 

It emerged that Galkina travelled to the US in spring 2016, the year of the last US president election. The purpose of her visit is unclear.

But after Donald Trump’s win, she posted: ‘I sincerely congratulate our (intelligent) ideological opponents on the victory of their candidate.

‘For our comrades, we are thinking of organising a democratic retreat here,.

‘It’s only four years to wait, palm trees, again, Jay Z on the tape recorder.’

Galkina is seen as implicating the firm in a Russian secret services-sponsored bid hacking Democratic Party servers to collect damaging material on 2016 presidential election candidate Hillary Clinton.

Webzilla and Russian-born Cyprus resident Gubarev have strongly denied any involvement in the DNC hacking and he has since sued Steele for defamation in Britain.

Some Russian sources scathingly attacked a woman who earlier moved from journalism to PR and at one time also served as deputy head of the administration of Saratov city.

Prominent journalist, scriptwriter and director Roman Volobuev posted : ‘Oh sh**, I KNOW the girl WSJ just named as the source of Steele dossier.

‘(And yeah, she’s probably made the whole thing up).’

He added, however, that she was ‘everyone’s acquaintance’ and ‘moderately shady’.

Others confirmed the mother-of-one had a wide circle of contacts. 

But newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda stated: ‘When she worked in Saratov, Olga was remembered by her frequent disappearances from the office when even her bosses couldn’t reach her.

‘Many believed that this was linked to alcohol.’

Yet when she lived in Limassol she was a member of an ‘intellectual’ Russian expat social club formed to discuss poetry.

Born in Perm, in the Urals, she has a degree in law and a further qualification in philology from the Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow.Both news outlet Newsru in Moscow and the Russian-language Cyprus Daily News said she was behind a colourful but confused personal blog - however there was no clear evidence that this was correct. In one entry, the writer stated: 'Since my childhood I have been into palm reading, and I know quite a lot about this'

Both news outlet Newsru in Moscow and the Russian-language Cyprus Daily News said she was behind a colourful but confused personal blog – however there was no clear evidence that this was correct. In one entry, the writer stated: ‘Since my childhood I have been into palm reading, and I know quite a lot about this’

In a personal review 2010 - when Galkina worked for the Kremlin environmental and nuclear watchdog - the blog attributed to her stated: 'The year was quiet, although not without adventures. Pleasant... Too much bisexuality. Festivals, hitch-hiking, sea, celebrations, two weeks in Moscow, a lot of games, nudity, nature, alcohol - there was leisure'

In a personal review 2010 - when Galkina worked for the Kremlin environmental and nuclear watchdog - the blog attributed to her stated: 'The year was quiet, although not without adventures. Pleasant... Too much bisexuality. Festivals, hitch-hiking, sea, celebrations, two weeks in Moscow, a lot of games, nudity, nature, alcohol - there was leisure'

 In a personal review of 2010 – when Galkina worked for the Kremlin environmental and nuclear watchdog – the blog attributed to her stated: ‘The year was quiet, although not without adventures. Pleasant… Too much bisexuality. Festivals, hitch-hiking, sea, celebrations, two weeks in Moscow, a lot of games, nudity, nature, alcohol – there was leisure’Galkina is portrayed by WSJ as the source of a claim that President Trump's (pictured in Moscow in 2013) ex-lawyer Michael Cohen secretly met Putin's intelligence officials in Prague to discuss payments for the hackers in the summer of 2016. The Russian woman was the 'most important contributor' to the Steele dossier, according to WSJ. She was 'Source 3' in the dossier, it was reported

Galkina is portrayed by WSJ as the source of a claim that President Trump’s (pictured in Moscow in 2013) ex-lawyer Michael Cohen secretly met Putin’s intelligence officials in Prague to discuss payments for the hackers in the summer of 2016. The Russian woman was the ‘most important contributor’ to the Steele dossier, according to WSJ. She was ‘Source 3’ in the dossier, it was reported

Both news outlet Newsru in Moscow and the Russian-language Cyprus Daily News said she was behind a colourful but confused personal blog – however there was no clear evidence that this was correct.

In one entry, the writer stated: ‘Since my childhood I have been into palm reading, and I know quite a lot about this.’

In a personal review of the year 2010 – when Galkina worked for the Kremlin environmental and nuclear watchdog – the blog attributed to her stated: ‘The year was quiet, although not without adventures. Pleasant.

‘In general successful and cheerful. Too much bisexuality. Festivals, hitch-hiking, sea, celebrations, two weeks in Moscow, a lot of games, nudity, nature, alcohol – there was leisure. Though, I worked a lot too.’

Another blog is clearly hers and it refers to a difficult break up with the father of her child.

Galkina is portrayed by WSJ as the source of a claim that President Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen secretly met Putin’s intelligence officials in Prague to discuss payments for the hackers in the summer of 2016.

Cohen denied ever traveling there.

The Russian woman was the ‘most important contributor’ to the Steele dossier, according to WSJ.

She was ‘Source 3’ in the dossier, it was reported.

She was allegedly recruited to the Steele intelligence-gathering team by Danchenko, who now lives in the US.

Christopher Steele: The British ex-spy who authored the ‘dirty dossier’

Christopher Steele, 55, embarked on a well-trodden path when he was recruited from Cambridge straight into MI6.

After a stint in London, he was stationed in Moscow just after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He returned to London and in 2006 was made head of MI6’s Russia desk, where he led the investigation into the poisoning of former Russian operative Alexander Litvinenko.

But he only became world-renowned after becoming a private intelligence consultant and writing the sensational Trump-Russia dossier in 2016.

His evidence was rubbished by Trump, but formed part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

In an interview at Oxford University, Mr Steele said he had been questioned for ‘two whole days’ but was disappointed with Mueller’s final report.

‘I was surprised that very little of what I had discussed with them appeared in the final report.

He criticized the report for being ‘too narrow’ and failing to follow up on crucial evidence. 

‘There were many things about the report that were good… but other (aspects) that were not so good,’ he said. 

Mr Steele said the fact that ‘a number of witnesses—including for instance, Donald Trump Jr.’ had avoided being interviewed ‘wasn’t great.’ 

Dismissing longstanding allegations of political bias, he described himself as simply ‘an opponent of President Putin.’

He said that Trump is naturally hostile toward the intelligence community. 

‘Trump himself doesn’t like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him,’ he said.   

I’m 19 & I’ve bought a £160k house & 20K bag collection by being Insta famous, I can teach you how to do it too

TWO weeks into her business studies course at college 16-year-old Georgia Portogallo, realising it wasn’t for her, walked out – with just £10 in her pocket and no plans.

Unemployed and unsure what to do, she might well have regretted her impulsive actions, which came just weeks after she’d picked up just seven GCSEs with grades ranging from A to C.

Influencer Georgia told how she's made money through teaching people
Influencer Georgia told how she’s made money through teaching people Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

But, surprisingly, she didn’t – because she’s gone onto be an Instagram influencer who now teaches people how to get followers online. 

In just three years she’s managed to earn enough money to buy a £160k home and has designer bags worth £20k.

“I just knew college wasn’t for me and I would never be happy there,” Georgia, now 19 and living just streets away from her parents Claire and Guido, 51 and 57, in North Lincolnshire, said. 

“Sat in a classroom I felt I was wasting my time. Even though I was broke, with no career path and my mates were all still in college or sixth form I knew I’d made the right decision.”

The couple with their new house
The couple with their new house Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

Georgia, who in June got engaged to her boyfriend of three years Jordan Smith, 21, now earns thousands of pounds a month as an Instagram teacher.

Meanwhile, her wardrobe is piled high with designer clothes from Gucci, Versace and Balenciaga. 

She’s made her thousands through tutoring hundreds of ‘students’ a week, ranging from their teens to 60s, on how to be social media famous – and she’s got a decent track record of 15k past pupils.

In just a few years Georgia has amassed 121k followers on her own page where she posts pouting snaps of herself – occasionally with Jordan. 

She now has clothes sent to her from brands such as PrettyLittleThing and Missguided who are desperate for her to wear their items in her posts.

Georgia, pictured with husband-to-be Jordan
Georgia, pictured with husband-to-be Jordan Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

Georgia’s top tips on how to be an influencer

Consistency 

  • Make sure you always post regularly so you build a fanbase

Interaction 

  • Talk to people that comment on your posts 

Network with other influencers

  • This way you can advise one another about tricks and ideas

Positivity 

  • A positive vibe brings people to you and will help increase followers

Good mindset

  • What are your goals? Where do you want to be? Make sure you know what you want to be, e.g. a cleaninfluencer 

Meanwhile she charges up to £400 per post – not bad considering just three years ago she was completely unknown and entirely broke. 

“I had to borrow £50 off my dad after walking out of college,” she confessed. “I bought some makeup then upsold it on eBay just to make ends meet.

“I would sell my clothes online to make cash.

“So to compare that to now when I have £20k’s worth of designer bags – well it is completely crackers.”

Despite desperately wanting to be a businesswoman after leaving college, Georgia had no idea what she was doing in the beginning, admitting her knowledge of social media was at best patchy.

“All I did on Instagram at the beginning was look at pictures of celebrities like Ellie and Daisy O’Donnell,” she admitted. “But within just a few weeks the followers started to role in. I got the idea of following people I liked and really interacting with them. 

I just knew college wasn’t for me and I would never be happy there.Georgia Portogallo19

“I’d comment on their posts and make sure I was seen. 

“They would respond and I would get followed back.

“I’d also tag brands I was wearing and often they would share my posts and that would reach a huge audience.

“It was oddly addictive, seeing the number of people interacting with me go up and up.”

Georgia spoke as runaway hit Emily in Paris became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows.

In it, much to people’s amusement, Emily (Lily Collins) becomes an overnight Instagram sensation after posting her day-to-day life on the network – with what people deem boring captions like “So romantic I may be falling in love”.

The couple on holiday
The couple on holiday Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

Georgia – whose virtually overnight social media success seems to mimic Emily’s – swore it wasn’t this easy to build your followers.

“People seem to think you’ll get a massive following overnight but you have to be really, really on it,” she said. “I didn’t stop. I was posting stuff all the time.

“In 2018 when I hit around 30k followers I started to realise things were taking off which was a really cool feeling. 

“That’s when brands started contacting me about sponsored posts. I’d get maybe £30 a post. It was enough to do things – Jordan and I might go for dinner – but not to live on.”

Still at home with her parents, she was on holiday at her grandmother Carmela’s home near Bologna, Italy, in 2018, when she was struck with a brainwave.

Georgia dropped out of school at 16
Georgia dropped out of school at 16 Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

“I was just chilling out when I realised so many people wanted to be Instagram influencers,” she said. 

“So I put pen to paper and started thinking about the best way to become one. Top tips and ideas.”

Before she knew it she’d written 88 pages on it. Posting it on her webpage, she quickly realised she could sell this information, so paid celebrities such as Marnie Simpson from Geordie Shore to promote it. 

And within days she had wannabe cleaning and makeup influencers requesting the documents, impressed by how many followers she had. 

“They pay £25 for the document which really goes into depth about how you can become an influencer. 

“There’s a general overall guide then sections for more niche areas.

Jordan and Georgia on their engagement
Jordan and Georgia on their engagement Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

“I’ve got people interested in cleaning – Mrs Hinch has made that hugely popular, beauty, motherhood… everything.”

She also addressed a really important area – trolling.

“I try and make my Instagram a really positive place, but of course I do get some negative comments,” she said. “But I try and ignore them as they’re just bullies hidden behind the screen.

“But people need to go into this with their eyes open.”

She said she took her influencer lessons seriously and people were successful, generating tens of thousands of followers. 

“Now there are other people doing what I am doing but I was the original,” she explained.

Now Georgia has loads of designer clothes
Now Georgia has loads of designer clothes Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

“Every day I get more and more requests for help.”

In addition she is seeing more and more requests for paid content, explaining she would post one picture for £150, two for £350 and three for £400. Story posts – which disappear after 24 hours – cost £60.

“I love watching the money roll in,” she laughed. “I’m only 19 and it is such a thrill.

“I’ve obviously bought the three-bedroom new build with Jordan – we’ve not moved in yet because we’re getting it totally redecorated in the style of the Dakota Hotel in Leeds, all dark greys.

“But I’ve also really splashed out on designer goodies.

“I’ve got a load of designer bags: three Gucci ones, three Louis Vuitton ones, a Fendi one and a Dior one.

“Meanwhile I’ve got two pairs of Balenciaga trainers, Louis Vuitton trainers and a £1,800 Moncler coat.

Georgia, pictured with one of her designer bags
Georgia, pictured with one of her designer bags Credit: georgiaportogallo/Instagram

“I love buying Gucci and Versace jewellery too.”

She said she had savings and was planning a “huge engagement party” with Jordan once it was possible because of coronavirus, with the couple – who met at school in 2017 and got engaged in Venice, Italy – planning to marry in 2024. 

“He’s not really into social media,” she added, explaining he worked in the steel industry.

“He’s proud of me though. My parents are too – as are my friends. 

“Even though I am earning so much I’ve not experienced any jealousy. Everyone has been so nice. I’m so glad I quit college.”

Thousands of Wuhan locals pack streets for Halloween as rest of world scraps celebrations over Covid second wave

FRIGHT NIGHT

  • 30 Oct 2020, 13:23

THOUSANDS of people pack the streets of Wuhan for Halloween while the rest of the world scraps celebration plans after a surge in coronavirus infections.

In pictures, several people are out enjoying Halloween celebrations in the Chinese city with some dressed as medical officials.

People dress as medical officials and patients as they dance to celebrate Halloween in Wuhan
People dress as medical officials and patients as they dance to celebrate Halloween in Wuhan Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Continue reading “Thousands of Wuhan locals pack streets for Halloween as rest of world scraps celebrations over Covid second wave”

Another one bites the dust.

Russian businessman loses libel battle against Christopher Steele for claims in ex-MI6 spy’s Trump ‘dirty dossier’ that claimed tycoon was involved in hacking Democrats

  • Aleksej Gubarev sued Mr Steele for making ‘seriously defamatory allegations’  
  • Judge ruled today Mr Steele was responsible for publication of the 2017 dossier
  • Claims made in the Democrat-funded dossier have been roundly rubbished 

By Jack Elsom For Mailonline

A Russian businessman has lost his libel battle against ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele whose ‘dirty dossier’ on Donald Trump implicated him in hacking the Democrats. Aleksej Gubarev sued Mr Steele for ‘seriously defamatory allegations’ that he had ‘knowing involvement’ in the DNC computer hack during the 2016 US election. But a High Court judge today ruled that the tycoon did not prove Steele was responsible for the report’s publication and so could not be made to pay damages. Central accusations made in the dossier, which was funded by the Democrats, have been roundly rubbished and were largely thrown out by the Mueller report. It was published by the Buzzfeed news website in 2017 and contained outlandish claims of Trump hiring prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room as well as allegations of Russian collusion with the Republican candidate’s campaign.

 Aleksej Gubarev

Christopher Steele
Continue reading “Another one bites the dust.”

Inside the Limelight: Never-before-seen photos expose the 1990s NYC club scene where outrageous costumes, shampoo rooms, sex and drugs ruled with regulars like Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, RuPaul and Tommy Lee and Pam Anderson

Eccentric costumes, drug-fueled parties, drag queens and wild sex ruled the New York City club scene in the 1990s.  

Regular partygoers of the buzzing nightlife included some of hottest A-listers of the time including then-businessman Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, newlyweds Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Jones, as well as actor Jared Letto and drag queen RuPaul.  

New book In The Limelight: The Visual Ecstasy of NYC Nightlife in the 90s dives into the club scene at hotspots like like Limelight, the Tunnel, Webster Hall, Club Expo, and Club USA with never-before-seen photos taken by prolific photographer, Steve Eichner.

Eichner was a fixture of 1990s nightlife and served as both its official and unofficial photographer in an era before cellphones and selfies. The book takes readers beyond the velvet ropes and into the spaces that witnessed some of the decade’s most raucous and sought-after parties.  

He recalls that Trump ‘loved to get his picture taken’ and shares a photo of Joan Rivers being embarrassed of having her picture taken while being hoisted up by two shirtless men on her birthday. 

Texts by famous club owner Peter Gatien and New York Times photo editor Gabriel H. Sanchez offer a historic and cultural perspective on an era when New York City was ‘more affordable and every night saw artists, bankers, drag queens, musicians, and poets reveling together.’

A-listers: Donald Trump was a regular on the VIP balcony of Club USA in New York City. He's pictured in 1994. The author writes of businessman Trump, 'He loved to get his picture taken. Anytime I would ask for a picture and he would stop whatever he was doing and pose for a picture'

A-listers: Donald Trump was a regular on the VIP balcony of Club USA in New York City. He’s pictured in 1994. The author writes of businessman Trump, ‘He loved to get his picture taken. Anytime I would ask for a picture and he would stop whatever he was doing and pose for a picture’

Newlyweds: Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson at the Limelight in 1995. This photo was taken when they were at the height of their fame - she was on Baywatch and he was in Motley Crue and they were recently married just a few months before this photo was taken. The author writes, 'I remember for some reason it is during the day, I don't know if they were there promoting something or just checking out the club but you know they're sitting on a church pew because the Limelight was an old church that was bought by Peter Gatien and turned into a night club'

Newlyweds: Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson at the Limelight in 1995. This photo was taken when they were at the height of their fame – she was on Baywatch and he was in Motley Crue and they were recently married just a few months before this photo was taken. The author writes, ‘I remember for some reason it is during the day, I don’t know if they were there promoting something or just checking out the club but you know they’re sitting on a church pew because the Limelight was an old church that was bought by Peter Gatien and turned into a night club’

Birthday girl: Joan Rivers is seen at Club USA, in 1993 where she celebrated her birthday while being hoisted in the air by shirtless men. The author writes, 'These guys, like totally buffed out models, were like carrying her around and I'm snapping pictures and they did a birthday cake and at some point, she pulled me aside and she said "Would you please not use those pictures of the guys." Her stand-up comedy was so raunchy yet she was shy about this photo'

Birthday girl: Joan Rivers is seen at Club USA, in 1993 where she celebrated her birthday while being hoisted in the air by shirtless men. The author writes, ‘These guys, like totally buffed out models, were like carrying her around and I’m snapping pictures and they did a birthday cake and at some point, she pulled me aside and she said ‘Would you please not use those pictures of the guys.’ Her stand-up comedy was so raunchy yet she was shy about this photo’

Party twins: The 'It Twins' were famous club kids and party promoters. Though they were not actual twins or even related, they ran around the nightclubs always dressed in matching outfits, like these green wigs with pigtails. They're pictured at the Roxy in 1993

Party twins: The ‘It Twins’ were famous club kids and party promoters. Though they were not actual twins or even related, they ran around the nightclubs always dressed in matching outfits, like these green wigs with pigtails. They’re pictured at the Roxy in 1993

Young Leto: Jared Leto was a fixture on the 1990s New York club scene. He's pictured at the Tunnel in 1995.  'I always remember him as a nice quiet guy that dressed really cool and had stunning good looks. In 1995 when this photo was taken he already had fame playing the role of Jordan Catalano on the television series My So called Life,' the photographer recalls

Young Leto: Jared Leto was a fixture on the 1990s New York club scene. He’s pictured at the Tunnel in 1995.  ‘I always remember him as a nice quiet guy that dressed really cool and had stunning good looks. In 1995 when this photo was taken he already had fame playing the role of Jordan Catalano on the television series My So called Life,’ the photographer recalls 

Dance floor: An overview of the massive dance floor at Palladium during an insanely creative fashion party hosted by nightlife diva Suzanne Bartsch. Drag queens dance on platforms while partygoers enjoy libations while the music pumps. 'That was one hell of a party. I hope we can do that again one day,' the photographer recalls

Dance floor: An overview of the massive dance floor at Palladium during an insanely creative fashion party hosted by nightlife diva Suzanne Bartsch. Drag queens dance on platforms while partygoers enjoy libations while the music pumps. ‘That was one hell of a party. I hope we can do that again one day,’ the photographer recalls 

Primtime drag: RuPaul is seen at Club USA in 1993. 'When this photo was taken RuPaul had instantly transformed from a club personality just known in NYC into an international superstar,' the author recalls. 'This photo was taken during a performance of Supermodel (You Better Work). The song became a hit and was on heavy rotation on MTV'

Primtime drag: RuPaul is seen at Club USA in 1993. ‘When this photo was taken RuPaul had instantly transformed from a club personality just known in NYC into an international superstar,’ the author recalls. ‘This photo was taken during a performance of Supermodel (You Better Work). The song became a hit and was on heavy rotation on MTV’

Caged in: An art installation is seen at the Tunnel in 1993. 'I never knew what to expect when I walked into a club on any given night,' Eichner says. 'The creativity and push to excite and entertain was a key theme running through 1990s clubland. Art installations were a big part of keeping things fresh and exciting. On this night an 'insane asylum' theme was the expression du jour. Nurses and doctors roamed around performance artists in cages,there was a person in a straight jacket and another in a padded cell. The inmates were running the asylum'

Caged in: An art installation is seen at the Tunnel in 1993. ‘I never knew what to expect when I walked into a club on any given night,’ Eichner says. ‘The creativity and push to excite and entertain was a key theme running through 1990s clubland. Art installations were a big part of keeping things fresh and exciting. On this night an ‘insane asylum’ theme was the expression du jour. Nurses and doctors roamed around performance artists in cages,there was a person in a straight jacket and another in a padded cell. The inmates were running the asylum’

Penis party: Robin Byrd and John Wayne Bobbitt are pictured at the Tunnel in 1994. Michael Musto the legendary nightlife reporter, hosted a party for John Wayne Bobbitt who famously had his penis cut off by his wife Lorena who proceeded to take a drive and throw it into a field where it was later found and reattached. 'The food was basically a mockery of his unfortunate incident. You can see the bread loaf is the shape of a penis,' Eichner writes. 'I had an idea for a photo op. We sat Robin Byrd, a TV host and former adult film actress next to John and gave her a knife. Robin got the concept instantly and proceeded to cut the bread phallus at its base. The reaction on Bobbit's face was priceless as if he was reliving the painful incident'

Penis party: Robin Byrd and John Wayne Bobbitt are pictured at the Tunnel in 1994. Michael Musto the legendary nightlife reporter, hosted a party for John Wayne Bobbitt who famously had his penis cut off by his wife Lorena who proceeded to take a drive and throw it into a field where it was later found and reattached. ‘The food was basically a mockery of his unfortunate incident. You can see the bread loaf is the shape of a penis,’ Eichner writes. ‘I had an idea for a photo op. We sat Robin Byrd, a TV host and former adult film actress next to John and gave her a knife. Robin got the concept instantly and proceeded to cut the bread phallus at its base. The reaction on Bobbit’s face was priceless as if he was reliving the painful incident’

Girls, girls, girls: Porn star Tiffany Million is pictured at Club USA in 1993. The photo was set up to promote and publicize the Money Drop party. Eichner says, 'The club's publicist came up with the idea and it worked. The club was in Times square and at that time the area was completely seedy. It all fit together, the publicity stunt worked and garnered a lot of press. A beautiful woman with fists of cash what's not to love'

Girls, girls, girls: Porn star Tiffany Million is pictured at Club USA in 1993. The photo was set up to promote and publicize the Money Drop party. Eichner says, ‘The club’s publicist came up with the idea and it worked. The club was in Times square and at that time the area was completely seedy. It all fit together, the publicity stunt worked and garnered a lot of press. A beautiful woman with fists of cash what’s not to love’

Steal a kiss: 'The S&M balcony at Club USA was a great place to make out or do even more,' Eichner says of the 1994 pics. ' I would walk through with my camera and snap photos of people in all phases of these activities. This particular photograph I call the ''the happy accident''. It was really dark so I could not see exactly what was happening. I pointed my camera at these two people kissing on the sofa and snapped. To my surprise when I viewed the developed film I realized that I had caught 't'he decisive moment''. The guy sticking his tongue out and the girl's mouth waiting to receive it. And the kicker is the dude in the background wiping the sweat from his forehead'

Steal a kiss: ‘The S&M balcony at Club USA was a great place to make out or do even more,’ Eichner says of the 1994 pics. ‘ I would walk through with my camera and snap photos of people in all phases of these activities. This particular photograph I call the ”the happy accident”. It was really dark so I could not see exactly what was happening. I pointed my camera at these two people kissing on the sofa and snapped. To my surprise when I viewed the developed film I realized that I had caught ‘t’he decisive moment”. The guy sticking his tongue out and the girl’s mouth waiting to receive it. And the kicker is the dude in the background wiping the sweat from his forehead’

Shampoo room: The Limelight club had a shampoo room which was an entire room filled with thick foam in which people swirled to thumping music and dancing in the foam and throwing the foam in the air. 'I thought it was the greatest idea ever. the author writes of the 1995 photo. 'Imagine being drunk or high and you discover this soap pit of joy. You jumping with your friends and swish around in there. I had to get in there myself once or twice. Good clean fun! Another stroke of genius was once you are done, the suds are blown off of you with a leafblower'

Shampoo room: The Limelight club had a shampoo room which was an entire room filled with thick foam in which people swirled to thumping music and dancing in the foam and throwing the foam in the air. ‘I thought it was the greatest idea ever. the author writes of the 1995 photo. ‘Imagine being drunk or high and you discover this soap pit of joy. You jumping with your friends and swish around in there. I had to get in there myself once or twice. Good clean fun! Another stroke of genius was once you are done, the suds are blown off of you with a leafblower’

Leather and chains: A dancing clubgoer is seen at Club USA in 1993. 'This is one of my favorite photos in the book and kind of says it all about the 1990s club scene in NYC,' the photographer says. 'Anything goes! Here we see a very fit man dancing to the music in boots and a leather G-string and nothing else except his bondage accessories, handcuffs and a leash'

Leather and chains: A dancing clubgoer is seen at Club USA in 1993. ‘This is one of my favorite photos in the book and kind of says it all about the 1990s club scene in NYC,’ the photographer says. ‘Anything goes! Here we see a very fit man dancing to the music in boots and a leather G-string and nothing else except his bondage accessories, handcuffs and a leash’

In style: Sky-high platform shoes were all the rage seen in this photo at the Limelight in 1993. 'Usually, homemade, and the taller the better,' the author writes. 'Start with a pair of doc martins or sneakers the glue together flat foam pieces stacked up in multi-colors. Cut the edges into jagged patterns and voila! The wearer of these shoes towered over the crowd. It was hilarious watching the club kids try and walk in these things. They had the strangest gait to avoid falling or kicking someone with the points. The funniest was watching them try to navigate a staircase'

In style: Sky-high platform shoes were all the rage seen in this photo at the Limelight in 1993. ‘Usually, homemade, and the taller the better,’ the author writes. ‘Start with a pair of doc martins or sneakers the glue together flat foam pieces stacked up in multi-colors. Cut the edges into jagged patterns and voila! The wearer of these shoes towered over the crowd. It was hilarious watching the club kids try and walk in these things. They had the strangest gait to avoid falling or kicking someone with the points. The funniest was watching them try to navigate a staircase’

Money Drop: 'The money drop at club USA was really quite funny,' Eichner says. 'They would promote this as a big thing where you could get a bunch of money. At 2am there was a count down and everyone in the club crowded onto the dance floor. The bag of money hanging from the ceiling opened up and it rained dollar bills onto the crowd. People went crazy sometimes pushing and shoving to get a few bills. The thing that makes it funny is I learned from one of the managers that there was only like $1,000 in the bag. That's a drop in the bucket for the club and with all those people. If anyone got more than $10 it was a miracle. Not worth risking your life for'

Money Drop: ‘The money drop at club USA was really quite funny,’ Eichner says. ‘They would promote this as a big thing where you could get a bunch of money. At 2am there was a count down and everyone in the club crowded onto the dance floor. The bag of money hanging from the ceiling opened up and it rained dollar bills onto the crowd. People went crazy sometimes pushing and shoving to get a few bills. The thing that makes it funny is I learned from one of the managers that there was only like $1,000 in the bag. That’s a drop in the bucket for the club and with all those people. If anyone got more than $10 it was a miracle. Not worth risking your life for’

Sparkle and shine: Debbie Harry is seen at the Roxy in 1994. 'I love the energy and the pose and her gold sequin dress. This photograph wound up being published in a magazine with the caption ''Is that Debbie Harry or a drag queen doing Debbie Harry'',' Eichner says

Sparkle and shine: Debbie Harry is seen at the Roxy in 1994. ‘I love the energy and the pose and her gold sequin dress. This photograph wound up being published in a magazine with the caption ”Is that Debbie Harry or a drag queen doing Debbie Harry”,’ Eichner says 

The original club kids: Sushi, Richie Rich and Zachary Augustine at the Tunnel, in 1995 were three of the original Club kids. They're see with drinks in hand walking through the massive Tunnel club, which was once an actual train tunnel. 'The club kids were the ring leaders and promoters for many of the craziest parties of the 1990s. They dress outlandish in your face styles and push the limits of androgyny and sexuality,' the author writes

The original club kids: Sushi, Richie Rich and Zachary Augustine at the Tunnel, in 1995 were three of the original Club kids. They’re see with drinks in hand walking through the massive Tunnel club, which was once an actual train tunnel. ‘The club kids were the ring leaders and promoters for many of the craziest parties of the 1990s. They dress outlandish in your face styles and push the limits of androgyny and sexuality,’ the author writes 

Ball pits: Michael Musto is seen at the John Wayne Bobbitt party that he hosted at the Tunnel in 1994. 'Musto wore an outfit fitting of he occasion made of tabloid newspapers and the piece de resistance hotdogs strung together as a necklace. To top it all off I put him in the 'ball room' for the photo op,' the photographer says

Ball pits: Michael Musto is seen at the John Wayne Bobbitt party that he hosted at the Tunnel in 1994. ‘Musto wore an outfit fitting of he occasion made of tabloid newspapers and the piece de resistance hotdogs strung together as a necklace. To top it all off I put him in the ‘ball room’ for the photo op,’ the photographer says 

Drag queen on a swing: Roller rink turned nightclub the Roxy in 1990. Eichner writes that the Roxy 'was my first love as far as mega clubs'. He recalled, 'Roller skaters would wizz around while Madonna music blasted from the sound system. A Drag queen in a rose-colored formal gown and pink roller skates swung from a swing high above the dance floor. All around the periphery club kids pranced around drinking Absolut and cranberries they got for free with drink tickets. Upstairs in the VIP area supermodels like Naomi Campbell popped champagne with rock stars'

Drag queen on a swing: Roller rink turned nightclub the Roxy in 1990. Eichner writes that the Roxy ‘was my first love as far as mega clubs’. He recalled, ‘Roller skaters would wizz around while Madonna music blasted from the sound system. A Drag queen in a rose-colored formal gown and pink roller skates swung from a swing high above the dance floor. All around the periphery club kids pranced around drinking Absolut and cranberries they got for free with drink tickets. Upstairs in the VIP area supermodels like Naomi Campbell popped champagne with rock stars’

Clubgoers: Two young partygoers are pictured in 1994 walking down the entrance stairway and into a night at the massive Tunnel club. Grinning ear to ear in their rave fashion with anticipation for what magical experience the night may ho

Clubgoers: Two young partygoers are pictured in 1994 walking down the entrance stairway and into a night at the massive Tunnel club. Grinning ear to ear in their rave fashion with anticipation for what magical experience

New book In The Limelight: The Visual Ecstasy of NYC Nightlife in the 90s dives into the club scene at hotspots like like Limelight, the Tunnel, Webster Hall, Club Expo, and Club USA. Never-before-seen photos taken by prolific photographer Steve Eichner show eccentric costumes and drug-fueled parties with A-list partygoers

New book In The Limelight: The Visual Ecstasy of NYC Nightlife in the 90s dives into the club scene at hotspots like like Limelight, the Tunnel, Webster Hall, Club Expo, and Club USA. Never-before-seen photos taken by prolific photographer Steve Eichner show eccentric costumes and drug-fueled parties with A-list partygoers

California Dreamgirl: 30 Vintage Photos of the Ultimate Hippy Chick Michelle Phillips From Between the 1960s and ’70s

Michelle Phillips (born Holly Michelle Gilliam; June 4, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. A native of California, she met and married John Phillips in San Francisco as a teenager, and went on to co-found the vocal group The Mamas & the Papas in 1965. The band rose to fame with their popular singles “California Dreamin'” and “Creeque Alley”, both of which Phillips co-wrote. They released five studio albums before their dissolution in 1970. Michelle Phillips is the last surviving member of the group.

After the breakup of the Mamas & the Papas and her divorce from John Phillips, she successfully transitioned into acting, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Billie Frechette in the critically acclaimed crime biopic Dillinger (1973). She went on to appear in numerous films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Ken Russell’s Valentino (1977), playing Natacha Rambova; Bloodline (1979); and Scissors (1991). She was also a main cast member on the series Knots Landing from 1987 to 1993.

Here’s a collection of 30 fascinating vintage photos of a young and hot Michelle Phillips from between the late 1960s and 1970s.

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40 черно-белых фотографий, запечатлевших повседневную жизнь во Франции в середине XX века

Фотограф Жанин Ньепс (12 февраля 1921 – 5 августа 2007), одна из первых фотожурналисток Франции, была дальней кузиной Нисефора Ньепса, изобретателя фотографии. Она талантливо фотографировала обычных людей, занимающихся своей повседневной жизнью, подобно фотографам-гуманистам Роберу Дуано и Вилли Ронису. Под влиянием Анри Картье-Брессона, который дал ей очень дельный совет по фотожурналистике, она присоединилась к агентству Rapho в 1955 году.

Будучи девушкой, учившейся в престижной Сорбонне в начале 1940-х годов, Ньепс фотографировала для французского движения Сопротивления и служила офицером во время освобождения Парижа от нацистов в 1944 году. После окончания учебы, утомленная войной в Париже, Ньепс начала свою карьеру независимого фотографа, путешествуя по сельской местности и снимая простые, пасторальные сцены. Контраст между этими снимками и ее городскими изображениями сопоставляет два разных образа жизни, сложившихся после Второй мировой войны. Позже, в 1970-х годах, Ньепс направила свою камеру и внимание на другое освободительное движение, снимая борьбу женщин за равную заработную плату и контроль над собственным телом. Член ассоциации Gens d’Images (некоммерческой ассоциации, созданной в соответствии с французским законом 1901 года и объединяющей любителей и профессионалов фотографии), Жанин Ньепс много лет возглавляла жюри премии Ньепса. В 1981 году Жанин Ньепс получила звание Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (кавалер Ордена искусств и литературы), а затем, в 1985 году, стала Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (кавалер Национального ордена Почетного легиона).

Continue reading “40 черно-белых фотографий, запечатлевших повседневную жизнь во Франции в середине XX века”