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The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Family says hidden spy cams at Airbnb captured footage of them having sex, kids using bathroom: lawsuit
A Georgia couple vacationing in Puerto Rico was stunned to find spy cameras hidden throughout their Airbnb, only to have their worst fears realized upon discovering surveillance video – including sound – that shows them having sex, as well as footage of their two kids in the bathroom, 'naked or [in] various stages of undress.' 'The sheer fear, emotional distress, rage, and profound sorrow – and the deep sense of violation experienced by the [pair], both personally and on behalf of their children – were unfathomable,' according to a bombshell lawsuit reviewed by The Independent. The family members are identified in court filings only by their initials, so as to 'avoid the[ir] revictimization… due to the sensitive nature of the grievances asserted,' listing the mom and dad as 'G.P.M.' and 'E.R.R.,' respectively. In an attempt to identify the culprit behind this astonishing invasion of privacy, G.P.M. searched the memory card in one of the cameras for the earliest available file, wondering if any recordings existed from when the devices were installed. 'To her indescribable horror, she discovered a video showing [one of the two hosts]... in the master bedroom installing and adjusting the… lens of the hidden camera, holding a second camera… and later confirming the live feed on his cellphone while verifying the camera's angle and viewpoint,' the family's complaint states. José Morales Boscio, the family's attorney, told The Independent, 'My clients seek justice against the perpetrators who invaded their life as a family and violated their constitutional rights to intimacy. Airbnb must be held accountable, as it profits from the commercial enterprise it operates, while trying to avoid its responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for its guests.' An Airbnb spokesperson told The Independent that the host in question is no longer allowed to list his property on the site. 'Hidden cameras have always been banned on Airbnb,' the spokesperson said. 'We take any rare reports of violations of our policy seriously. We have banned the host's account as investigations continue and have assisted the authorities.' Earlier this year, an Arkansas couple vacationing at an Airbnb in Scottsdale, Arizona, filed suit after they say they 'enjoyed an intimate moment' on their first evening there, only to subsequently discover a hidden camera above the bed, as The Independent first reported. On February 15, 2025, G.P.M. and E.R.R. booked a week-long vacation for their family at an Airbnb in Hatillo, a rural hamlet of about 4,000 on Puerto Rico's north coast. When the four got there on February 17, the two co-hosts directed the couple to the two-story home's two-bed, two-bath upstairs unit, according to the complaint, which was filed June 24 in San Juan federal court. Four days into their stay, G.P.M. was in the hallway bathroom, getting ready to go to the beach, when she looked in the mirror and noticed a strange reflection coming from an electrical outlet behind her, the complaint goes on. Upon closer inspection of the socket, the complaint continues, G.P.M. saw a 'round crystal that resembled a camera lens.' G.P.M. immediately summoned E.R.R., who told G.P.M. that her eyes must be playing tricks on her, the complaint states. 'G.P.M., however, insisted that her concerns were real, and it was not and proceeded to check the electrical outlets in the master bedroom, where she discovered a second outlet containing what also appeared to be a camera lens,' the complaint says. 'E.R.R. again dismissed her concerns, and the family then left for the beach.' While there, G.P.M. searched the internet and found other travelers' stories about hidden cameras at Airbnbs, according to the complaint. Upon arriving back at the property, the complaint says G.P.M. inspected the outlet above the mirror in the master bathroom, and discovered a hidden camera 'about the size of a pencil point.' As E.R.R. went about removing the outlet itself, a 'black box wrapped in tape with a long wire attached emerged from the wall,' the complaint states. The two contacted Airbnb through its website, and G.P.M. also called 911 to report the three hidden cameras to police. There were also two hidden cameras found in the occupied downstairs unit, according to the complaint. Airbnb offered G.P.M., E.R.R., and their kids another place nearby, and they agreed to move, the complaint states. But since they still had access to the first apartment, G.P.M. and E.R.R. returned to check the cameras' memory cards, the complaint explains. As they opened the files, G.P.M. and E.R.R. 'saw their children['s] images, naked or on [sic] various stages of undress,' and 'saw themselves during their stay, which included them having sexual relations,' the complaint alleges. It says G.P.M. then saw the footage their host had inadvertently uploaded back in February 2024, of himself installing the spy cams. While investigators waited for a judge to issue a search warrant, the complaint says the host and co-host, as well as an 'unknown woman with a laptop in hand,' entered the property via a rear entrance and began removing the hidden cameras. Enraged, E.R.R., who was waiting in a neighbor's house for police to return, 'ran into the upstairs unit and physically confronted one of the hosts, dragging him out,' then engaged the co-host and the woman 'in a heated exchange,' the complaint states. The three eventually left the scene in separate vehicles, according to the complaint. Once they handed over the memory cards to police, G.P.M. and E.R.R., who were scheduled to fly home the next day, sat down with local prosecutors to provide their version of events. Following the meeting, the complaint says the family went to a nearby restaurant for something to eat. 'Shortly after arriving, G.P.M. went to use the restroom but experienced her first panic attack of more to come,' the complaint states. 'Overcome by the feeling of being watched, she was unable to use the restroom, and the [family] left the restaurant soon after.' Deeply traumatized by the experience, E.R.R. postponed the family's return flight by a week, hoping to salvage at least part of their trip, according to the complaint. But, it says, that night, G.P.M. 'began experiencing vivid nightmares in which she and her children were being watched.' 'The following day, G.P.M. noticed that their 9-year-old daughter was withdrawn, avoiding spending time with the family,' the complaint asserts. '... They left their accommodation only when absolutely necessary during the remainder of their stay. G.P.M. concentrated on providing emotional support to their daughter, who confided that she was feeling unwell and believed she was falling into a state of depression as a result of the ordeal.' Now back in Georgia, the family continues to suffer from 'severe emotional distress,' according to the complaint, which says they have 'remained in therapy to this day.' G.P.M. and E.R.R. are seeking a minimum of $5 million in damages over the ordeal, claiming an 'intentional, malicious, and negligent invasion of their privacy.'
Russia Today
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Baltic state threatens to close key Russian border crossing
Estonia could close its border crossing in the eastern city of Narva because of the large number of people wishing to enter Russia, Interior Minister Igor Taro has stated. Ethnic Russians make up more than a fifth of the Baltic country's population, and the queues at the border have attracted the attention of local media outlets for months. When asked by former Narva mayor and current Estonian MP Aleksey Yevgrafov whether the Interior Ministry plans to re-open the city's second border crossing, which has been closed since November 2022, Taro said it would be better to just close the border altogether, including the Narva crossing, if the border guards become overwhelmed. The interior minister emphasized that Estonia must primarily follow Brussels' lead on the issue, so travel and trade restrictions on Moscow must take priority to the problems faced by people trying to cross into Russia. 'Long queues at the border are linked to Russia's military action against Ukraine, and Estonia, including all her citizens and residents, should ensure full implementation of the sanctions imposed on Russia,' Taro stated, according to the ERR news outlet. Last month, local media outlets reported that people had to wait 16 to 20 hours to cross into Russia from Narva and sometimes didn't make it across before the border closed. According to ERR, Estonia's Interior Ministry has acknowledged that the queues were the result of 'total customs control' being imposed on all the goods and individuals crossing the border from Estonia to Russia. Like its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia has adopted an increasingly hostile stance towards Moscow since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February of 2022, while speculating that Russia could invade once the Ukraine conflict ends. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the claim and branded the hardline strategy maintained by Estonia and other Baltic nations 'Russophobic'. In May, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asserted that the bureaucrats of those nations are so reliant on EU subsidies that all they care about is executing 'Brussels' orders.' However, the rampant Russophobia displayed by the Baltic States has only succeeded in 'making their citizens' lives more difficult and sometimes even unbearable,' she stated at the time.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Vanguard,' About Swedish Mogul Jan Stenbeck, Sells to Multiple Territories: ‘Him and Trump Are Both Extremely Divisive Figures' (EXCLUSIVE)
'Vanguard,' a drama about Swedish mogul Jan Stenbeck, has sold to TG4 (Ireland), ERR (Estonia), Viaplay SVOD on Amazon Prime (U.S., U.K., Poland), Viaplay Select on Cindie (LatAm), Prima+ (Czech Republic) and Vodafone (Greece), Variety has found out exclusively. FLX's Lejla Bešic produced the five-episode show – about to premiere at Monte Carlo TV Festival – for SVT in collaboration with the N8 alliance, while Viaplay Content Distribution handles international sales. More from Variety Jason Priestley on Why 'BH90210' Got Canceled, and Why He Would Act in 'Euphoria' If He Were a Young Star 'The Tourist,' Starring Jamie Dornan, Wins Best Series at Monte-Carlo Television Festival 'The Reunion' Star Ioan Gruffudd, Director Bill Eagles, Producer Sydney Gallonde on Remaining Faithful to Guillaume Musso's Novel The story, based on Per Andersson's biography 'Stenbeck: A Biography of a Successful Businessman,' kicks off with Stenbeck (played by Jakob Oftebro, known for 'Black Crab' and 'Hamilton') returning to the family he has spent his whole life rejecting. Just like … Michael Corleone. 'I wanted to do a homage to 'The Godfather,'' laughed director Goran Kapetanović. He's happy, working in New York and romancing an American socialite. But when tragedy strikes, twice, he needs to lead his family's industrial group. The king is dead. Long live the king. 'He was this prince, living in the U.S., and then the king asked him to go back to Sweden. But he just painted the whole castle pink,' said Kapetanović. Stenbeck had ideas of his own, ultimately breaking Sweden's telephone monopoly and launching Scandinavia's first commercial channel TV3. 'He was a gambler – that's how he lived his life. Later, he was addicted to food and alcohol and just destroyed himself. It's quite tragic, this portrait of a strong, powerful man who deals with so many things but remains oblivious to his family, for example.' It was the complicated family dynamic that attracted Alex Haridi. He wrote the script with Lotta Erikson and Helene Lindholm. 'I also have a very, very complicated relationship with my sister. When I started reading about Jan, that part opened my eyes: it's like watching Greek gods, fighting and having all these conflicts, and everything they do trickles down to ordinary people. I can see things in my own life that are a direct result of these siblings not getting along back in the early 80s.' He added: 'He really impacted our lives in Sweden, and he wasn't even meant to run the company! He was the youngest of four children. Then he steps in and becomes this enormous figure. I don't want to put an equal sign between him and Trump, but they are both extremely divisive figures. People call him the savior or the devil. In a sense, he's both. And neither.' Their lead actor had to capture this duality, too. 'Jan can be likeable. There's something mystical about him and a little bit childish. I've been looking all over Sweden, then I turned to Norway and the only guy who could speak all three Scandinavian languages was Jakob,' recalled Kapetanović. 'It was a bit risky because of the accent, but he did a Swedish show before. Now, we have a Norwegian guy playing one of the most important Swedish guys. I'm so proud of it.' Haridi noted: 'I just remember watching Jakob during the casting process. He was so charming, so warm and wonderful. And then there was this point when everything shifts. All of a sudden, it felt icky. He really carries the show.' Oftebro is joined by Zoe Boyle, Malin Crepin, Julia Marko Nord, Iggy Malmborg and Niklas Engdahl. While 'Vanguard' had to be 'very, very factually correct,' admitted Haridi, the actual family wasn't involved. 'We talked to lots of people around the family and around the company. The family itself was informed the series was being written and made, but they didn't want to participate.' Instead, the team focused on making the story appealing to younger viewers – Stenbeck passed away in 2002 – and finding a way to combine his personal struggles with massive changes in the media landscape he was very much a part of. 'In the 1970s, there were educational programs everywhere, and then people realized they could make money. They just said: 'We want to give people what they want.' That's basically what Steinbeck said, too: 'We'll give Swedish people what they want to see.' There's a beautiful scene in the fourth episode when he's talking to these Italian Berlusconi types [Berlusconi was a founder of Mediaset]. That's why we're getting so many trashy TV shows these days.' 'There's a lot of business talk [in the show], so we had to balance it out, making sure there's always something emotional going on underneath,' added Haridi. 'Even if you don't understand exactly what they're talking about in business terms, there's a personal story you can follow. Having these two layers in every scene was the right way to do it.' 'At the end, it really comes down to family, to all of them competing with each other,' observed Kapetanović. 'You win some, you lose some and at the end you wonder: Was it worth it or not?' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine struck Russian Tu-95 bombers prepared for missile attacks
The Russian Tu-95 bombers targeted during Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web were preparing to launch missile strikes on Ukraine, Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defence Forces' Intelligence Centre, reports. Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kiviselg said that all the damaged aircraft had been actively involved in missile attacks on Ukraine. He stated that Ukraine struck at least five strategic airfields deep inside Russia, completely destroying at least seven long-range bombers and damaging at least two more. "The bombers that were hit were preparing for strike missions, and it can be said that Ukraine targeted the most combat-ready segment of Russia's strategic air force," Kiviselg said. He noted that restoring the aircraft will require significant additional resources from Russia. "Above all, this means bolstering internal security and force protection measures within Russia," the intelligence chief added. Kiviselg also noted the importance of Ukraine having carried out a series of simultaneous special operations in Russia's most remote regions, calling it a strong signal to the Putin regime about the potential Ukraine possesses to force Russia into genuine peace negotiations. In such a situation, he said any retaliatory actions by Russia appear weak and unconvincing, merely highlighting its inability to respond effectively. Kiviselg reiterated that Russia responded with a strike using 407 attack drones and 44 missiles but stressed that Russia is currently incapable of doing more than that. Background: Axios reported that US President Donald Trump is supposedly enthusiastic about Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web but concerned about Russia's possible response. A senior official in the North Atlantic Alliance hailed Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia exerts pressure along entire front line, Ukrainian troops hold ground successfully
Russian forces continue to exert pressure along all major fronts in Ukraine, but Ukrainian units are successfully holding their positions, Estonian Defence Forces' Intelligence Centre reports. Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda Details: Pressure remains high in Donetsk Oblast, particularly around the town of Kostiantynivka. Russian offensive operations are also ongoing from the direction of the settlements of Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Over the past week, Russian forces have advanced in the area between the settlements of Pokrovsk and Toretsk. While the territorial gains are small, Russian troops have managed to seize a key section of the highway between Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar. However, the occupation of Kostiantynivka is considered unlikely in the near future. Russian forces continue to carry out high-intensity attacks near Pokrovsk and towards Novopavlivka, which account for half of all strikes. Nevertheless, these efforts have not led to significant results. Estonian military officials noted that Ukrainian forces are successfully holding the line. Overall, Estonian defence forces assess that the frontline situation has remained stable for several months, essentially since the beginning of the year. Russian forces are trying to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in order to strengthen their position ahead of possible negotiations. However, Russia has shown no clear signs of seeking a ceasefire and is likely to maintain the current level of hostilities. Background: Recently, UK intelligence reported that Russian forces had achieved tactical gains in Donetsk Oblast over the past month, particularly near Kostiantynivka. Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence suggested that Russia may suffer its record losses of the war against Ukraine in 2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
