All articles tagged with #espionage
A discarded perfume bottle contained the Russian nerve agent Novichok, sickening Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley and tying Salisbury’s poisonings to a broader espionage operation; Rowley survived with lasting injuries and memory loss, and there is little justice in sight, as recounted in CNN’s documentary.
Former CIA officers describe spy recruitment as a delicate art that relies on empathy and persuasion, with compensation beyond cash often used to seal deals; money may grease the wheels but isn’t always the prime motivator, and the piece notes unorthodox expense approaches as part of how the CIA recruits foreign spies.
Australia’s spy chief says Iranian agents lived in Australia before directing arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, including the 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, underscoring ongoing security concerns about Iran-linked operations.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau is launching a secure web portal for Chinese nationals to report intelligence information, citing mounting domestic difficulties and tighter political control in China. The move mirrors practices used by the CIA and other Western agencies as tensions with Beijing rise, with recent Chinese drills near Taiwan and Taiwan’s own military responses highlighting the strained context.
China’s security ministry claims foreign powers are waging an ‘undersea espionage’ campaign using sensor-equipped marine life—turtles, fish and other devices—plus buoys and wave gliders to gather oceanographic data and map its coastline, with real-time data beamed to satellites; officials warn such intelligence activities could threaten national security and are offering rewards (up to 500,000 yuan) for catching the spies, though there is no independent verification of the claims.
China’s Commerce Ministry condemned the Pentagon’s updated 1260H list that labels dozens of Chinese firms (including Alibaba, Baidu and BYD) as military companies, warning of forceful countermeasures if the U.S. does not withdraw the designation. The listing, which sanctions Pentagon dealings and damages reputations rather than banning operations, comes amid broader U.S.–China tensions over espionage concerns and ongoing trade frictions, with Trump and Xi recently signaling efforts to stabilize ties and potential talks on arms sales to Taiwan.
China says foreign intelligence agencies are attaching sensors to sea turtles to map its coastline and identify weaknesses in coastal defenses, collecting data on water conditions and transmitting it overseas; it urges security checks on imported equipment and asks fishermen to report any unusual devices at sea.
China has arrested US scholar Min Zin, a UC Berkeley PhD candidate who founded ISP Myanmar, on suspicion of espionage endangering national security after he disappeared in Kunming during a conference; the rare move against a US citizen comes as Beijing and Washington seek to reset ties following Xi Jinping’s meeting with Donald Trump.
China's state security ministry claims foreign intelligence services are using novel methods to monitor its waters, including sensors attached to large marine animals dubbed 'spy turtles' and 'spy fish', as well as wave gliders and sensor buoys that transmit real-time data on water conditions and submarine activity; Beijing says this threatens national security and notes rewards for fishermen who report spying devices (50,000 to 500,000 yuan).
The FBI says it seized 13 websites that it alleges were used by China to target U.S. workers, in a move signaling ongoing efforts to disrupt foreign cyber operations against Americans.
The Pentagon reportedly raised Israel's counterintelligence threat level to 'critical'—the highest in history—citing tensions with the United States over how to handle the Iran war and its proxies. NBC News cited two US officials saying an internal Defense Intelligence Agency briefing noted the rise after reports that software to tap US personnel’s communications had been installed on their phones in Israel. Israel denied the espionage claims, and a White House official said the story was false, with the Pentagon declining to comment.
The Pentagon elevated Israel's counterintelligence threat level to 'critical' amid concerns the country is spying on U.S. officials and deliberations over the Iran war, though officials say routine intelligence-sharing remains unaffected and Israel denies the accusations.
The Five Eyes intelligence alliance says China is targeting its personnel by posting fake job advertisements to recruit or influence officials, signaling ongoing espionage efforts that raise security risks across member nations.
Five Eyes security partners issued a rare joint bulletin warning that Chinese intelligence is using professional networks and job platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed to recruit government and military personnel, academics, journalists and others. The operation reportedly follows a five‑step plan and can pay hundreds to thousands of dollars per report; targets include those with security clearances, especially in the Indo-Pacific, and even non‑classified data can aid Beijing. Prosecutions under espionage laws are possible for those who pass along information.
The United States and Five Eyes partners issued a rare joint warning that China is using LinkedIn and other job platforms to pry secret information from security professionals worldwide, including via fake profiles and targeted offers designed to recruit individuals with access to classified data.