It comes with a side of spies. Long Island’s newest steakhouse is a fascinating nod to the Culper spy ring, a local group of Revolutionary War double agents whose heroic espionage efforts saved the colonial forces on multiple occasions. “As we were going through school, we learned about the spy ring and the effect it … Read more
Christina Hillsberg joined the CIA as an eager 21-year-old in 2006. She spent more than a decade there: traveling undercover to CIA stations across the globe, meeting with clandestine sources in cafes and hotel rooms and recruiting “assets” who would provide secrets and information to the US government. It was thrilling, dangerous, sometimes scary work. … Read more
Ann Foley, a part-time real estate agent, lived a middle-class, all-American lifestyle with her husband, Don, and their two sons, in Cambridge, Mass., home of many of America’s most prestigious universities and think tanks. But the likeable, friendly couple had a very secret life. Ann was, in fact, Elena Vavilova, a deep-cover spy trained by … Read more
Secret agent silks. “The White Lotus” Season 3 has a connection to a real life unsolved mystery about the disappearance of a suspected American spy living in Thailand — and it all has to do with the show’s costumes. “White Lotus” costume designer Alex Bovaird revealed that for Season 3, she turned to a Thai … Read more
In 2015, Iqbal Khan was on top of the world. The 34-year-old finance wunderkind, who had moved from Pakistan to Switzerland when he was just a teenager, was promoted to head of international wealth management at Credit Suisse, the global investment bank. “Even Khan was shocked” by his fast ascension, writes Duncan Mavin in his … Read more
It appears as though Prince Andrew can’t help but attract controversy within his circle as his business adviser is accused of being a spy, according to reports. The disgraced Duke of York’s former staffer, who has not been named and is only known as his “close confidant,” has been banned from entering the UK as … Read more
“A martini. Shaken, not stirred.” You can now utter James Bond’s iconic drink order from “Goldfinger” at the world’s first 007 bar in London’s Burlington Arcade. Created to celebrate the movie’s 60th anniversary, the pop-up cocktail lounge and store will remain open through the end of the year. The luxury shopping gallery, built in 1818 … Read more
In a city that’s almost 2,000 years old, you might expect to see buildings reused, recycled and reinvented, and buzzy new hotels are top among them. The Ned, in the financial district of Bank, used to be (you guessed) a bank; the former staid offices now boast 10 restaurants including flamboyant foyer dining and entertainment … Read more
A former Central Intelligence Agency operative is sharing intel on her dating life. As an agent, Brittany Butler Jennings kept her job title top secret, vetting her love interests before disclosing her work to avoid raising “too many eyebrows.” The Charleston, South Carolina, resident, who worked at the CIA for nine years, called her job … Read more
If you can’t keep up, sit this one out. The Central Intelligence Agency is seeking candidates for an “executive protective agent” role who are patriotic, trustworthy and, most importantly, fit enough to complete 27 sit-ups and 18 push-ups in just 1 minute. An executive protective agent “provides 24/7/365 armed protection for Intelligence Community leaders world-wide. … Read more
“The Pigeon Tunnel,” a new documentary from renowned filmmaker Erroll Morris reveals that John le Carré had a life as intriguing as his acclaimed spy novels. The film, which premieres today on Apple TV+ and captures the English-born le Carré, who died in December 2020 at the age of 89, reflecting on his personal and … Read more
As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sat in his wheelchair in the Oval Office, dictating a letter to his secretary, in sneaked William Donovan, the head of the Office of Strategic Services, armed with a loaded pistol. At Donovan’s feet was a bag of sand. As the president continued working, oblivious to Donovan’s presence, the OSS … Read more
Guy Pearce spent six months playing Kim Philby in “A Spy Among Friends” — and said he still can’t quite understand what motivated the infamous British intelligence officer who fled to Russia in 1963 after decades as a double-agent for the Soviet Union. Philby’s betrayal — not only of his country, but of his friendship … Read more
From Russia with love. A Soviet-born ex-spy is sharing her top tips to seduce men after becoming an expert in honey-trapping high-profile targets. Aliia Roza, 37, says she can charm any member of the opposite sex and describes herself as a “master manipulator.” The real-life Red Sparrow — who was forced to flee Russia after … Read more