WeChat has become China's beloved surveillance tool after authorities are using the app to justify arrests and issue veiled threats. Molly Gambhir tells you how Beijing is using the popular messaging app for spying.

WION Fineprint | WeChat used to spy on citizens in China

A Russian spy posing as a Brazilian national was caught in the Netherlands. He intended to access the ICC database. Dutch intelligence service stopped him at the airport.

Russian spy posing as a Brazilian national caught in the Netherlands

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine.

The Dutch named him Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov. The man used a Brazilian cover identity but was unmasked as a member of Russia's GRU military intelligence and refused entry in April as a "threat to national security", the AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) said in a statement.

"The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from gaining access as an intern to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague," the AIVD statement said.

"The person in question works for the Russian Military Intelligence Service GRU, but he used a Brazilian cover identity to travel from Brazil to the Netherlands," AVID added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-ukraine-bids-farewell-to-its-war-heroes-488400">In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes</a>

Covert access to the Hague-based ICC would be "highly valuable to the Russian intelligence services" as it is probing both Ukraine and the Russian war in Georgia in 2008. The illegal was supposed to commence an internship with the ICC, which would mean he would have access to the ICC's building and systems.

Had the Russian spy succeeded "he would have been able to gather intelligence there and to look for (or recruit) sources, and arrange to have access to the ICC’s digital systems, he might also have been able to influence criminal proceedings of the ICC," it added.

The Dutch agency said it "holds him to be a threat to national security" and alerted the immigration services before his arrival. "On these grounds, the intelligence officer was refused entry into the Netherlands in April and declared unacceptable. He was sent back to Brazil on the first flight out," it said.

The ICC has also been informed of this case. There was no immediate response from the ICC, which opened a probe into potential war crimes in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion on February 24.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine.

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine. The Dutch named him Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov. The man used a Brazilian cover identity but was unmasked as a member of Russia's GRU military intelligence and refused entry in April as a "threat to national security", the AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) said in a statement. "The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from gaining access as an intern to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague," the AIVD statement said. "The person in question works for the Russian Military Intelligence Service GRU, but he used a Brazilian cover identity to travel from Brazil to the Netherlands," AVID added. Also Read: In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes Covert access to the Hague-based ICC would be "highly valuable to the Russian intelligence services" as it is probing both Ukraine and the Russian war in Georgia in 2008. The illegal was supposed to commence an internship with the ICC, which would mean he would have access to the ICC's building and systems. Had the Russian spy succeeded "he would have been able to gather intelligence there and to look for (or recruit) sources, and arrange to have access to the ICC’s digital systems, he might also have been able to influence criminal proceedings of the ICC," it added. The Dutch agency said it "holds him to be a threat to national security" and alerted the immigration services before his arrival. "On these grounds, the intelligence officer was refused entry into the Netherlands in April and declared unacceptable. He was sent back to Brazil on the first flight out," it said. The ICC has also been informed of this case. There was no immediate response from the ICC, which opened a probe into potential war crimes in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion on February 24. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dutch intelligence stops Russian spy from entering ICC investigating war crimes in Ukraine

Fifteen thousand dollars- there's a lot you can do with that kind of money- you can buy 25 iPads, a luxury Tiffany's bracelet, you can even buy a car. This is a lot of money for most people but in China this money you can earn easily, all you have to do is buy and rat out people who you think threaten China's national security.

Need $15,000? Become a spy in China

Israel announced on Tuesday that it had proof that Iran stole sensitive documents from the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency over two decades ago and used them to hide its nuclear programmes from international inspectors.

The documents appear to demonstrate that Iran was spying on the inspectors and seeking to anticipate and respond to any claims of malfeasance, but there is no indication that it was pursuing nuclear weapons. Israel has been pressuring the United States and other international powers not to rebuild the shattered nuclear deal with Iran.

The materials were distributed to the media by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. They come from a cache of Iranian nuclear files acquired by Israel in 2018 but never made public, according to his office.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the documents last week, saying it had obtained them from a Middle East intelligence agency” in a country opposed to Iran’s nuclear program.

Bennett claimed he was distributing the documents in reaction to remarks made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who dismissed the charges as lies. " The foreign minister referred to earlier instances when Israel has provided dire warnings that Iran was poised to build nuclear weapons that did not come to pass.

Spreading false information? Please, don't make me laugh. Bennett remarked in a video distributed to the media, "I'm holding the proof of your falsehoods right here in my hands." The Persian-language documents, which could not be verified right away, appear to be stamped with official stamps, some of which say "secret."

After Iran stole classified documents from the U.N.’s atomic agency, Iran used that information to figure out what the atomic agency was hoping to find, and then created cover stories and hid evidence to evade their nuclear probes,” Bennett said.

Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes. U.S. intelligence agencies, Western nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003.

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat and was virulently opposed to the 2015 nuclear agreement signed by Iran and world powers, saying it did not contain enough safeguards to keep Iran from developing a weapons capability or address other Iranian military threats in the region. It welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from that deal, causing its collapse, and is opposed to U.S. efforts to revive the accord.

Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East. It has never publicly acknowledged having such weapons.

One of the documents shared by Israel, a purported Iranian intelligence memo from 2004, says 27 pages of classified IAEA documents are being sent to prepare for an inspection of Iran’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor. The reactor produces plutonium as a byproduct, which can be used for nuclear weapons. The memo says the documents were obtained using intelligence methods.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Israel announced on Tuesday that it had proof that Iran stole sensitive documents from the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency over two decades ago and used them to hide its nuclear programmes from international inspectors.

Israel announced on Tuesday that it had proof that Iran stole sensitive documents from the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency over two decades ago and used them to hide its nuclear programmes from international inspectors. The documents appear to demonstrate that Iran was spying on the inspectors and seeking to anticipate and respond to any claims of malfeasance, but there is no indication that it was pursuing nuclear weapons. Israel has been pressuring the United States and other international powers not to rebuild the shattered nuclear deal with Iran. The materials were distributed to the media by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. They come from a cache of Iranian nuclear files acquired by Israel in 2018 but never made public, according to his office. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the documents last week, saying it had obtained them from a Middle East intelligence agency” in a country opposed to Iran’s nuclear program. Bennett claimed he was distributing the documents in reaction to remarks made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who dismissed the charges as lies. " The foreign minister referred to earlier instances when Israel has provided dire warnings that Iran was poised to build nuclear weapons that did not come to pass. Spreading false information? Please, don't make me laugh. Bennett remarked in a video distributed to the media, "I'm holding the proof of your falsehoods right here in my hands." The Persian-language documents, which could not be verified right away, appear to be stamped with official stamps, some of which say "secret." After Iran stole classified documents from the U.N.’s atomic agency, Iran used that information to figure out what the atomic agency was hoping to find, and then created cover stories and hid evidence to evade their nuclear probes,” Bennett said. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes. U.S. intelligence agencies, Western nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Israel views Iran as its greatest threat and was virulently opposed to the 2015 nuclear agreement signed by Iran and world powers, saying it did not contain enough safeguards to keep Iran from developing a weapons capability or address other Iranian military threats in the region. It welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from that deal, causing its collapse, and is opposed to U.S. efforts to revive the accord. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East. It has never publicly acknowledged having such weapons. One of the documents shared by Israel, a purported Iranian intelligence memo from 2004, says 27 pages of classified IAEA documents are being sent to prepare for an inspection of Iran’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor. The reactor produces plutonium as a byproduct, which can be used for nuclear weapons. The memo says the documents were obtained using intelligence methods. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel says Iran spied on nuclear inspectors two decades ago

Israel investigation officials have initiated a probe after it was claimed that gifts given by the Chinese embassy in Israel to an Israeli minister and government officials were planted with listening devices, local Israeli media reported.

The incident was first reported on Tuesday morning by Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent Moriah Asraf-Walberg, claiming that the mugs gifted by the Chinese embassy appeared to be planted.

According to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, quoting diplomatic officials, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have started their investigation.

The gift was reportedly sent to the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry earlier this week apparently without any prior announcement from the Chinese Embassy.

The newspaper claims that the security found the device before it reached Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen.

There are more reports claiming that similar gits were received by the office of Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli.

In lieu of the so-called spy incident, all the government offices have been told to be extra careful about receiving gifts from foreign entities as “they may contain listening devices or cameras”, the Times of Israel reported.

A similar incident was reported in 2018 when the French newspaper Le Monde claimed that China had bugged the African Union’s headquarters, which Beijing had built and paid for in Addis Ababa.

The article claimed that data was being transferred to Chinese since 2012 and it was only spotted in 2017 due to the spike in activity between midnight and 02:00, despite no one being in the building.

The newspaper, quoting anonymous sources, claimed that following the discovery of the alleged data transfer, the AU officials changed their servers.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel investigation officials have initiated a probe after it was claimed that gifts given by the Chinese embassy in Israel to an Israeli minister and government officials were planted with listening devices, local Israeli media reported.

Israel investigation officials have initiated a probe after it was claimed that gifts given by the Chinese embassy in Israel to an Israeli minister and government officials were planted with listening devices, local Israeli media reported. The incident was first reported on Tuesday morning by Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent Moriah Asraf-Walberg, claiming that the mugs gifted by the Chinese embassy appeared to be planted. According to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, quoting diplomatic officials, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have started their investigation. The gift was reportedly sent to the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry earlier this week apparently without any prior announcement from the Chinese Embassy. The newspaper claims that the security found the device before it reached Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen. There are more reports claiming that similar gits were received by the office of Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli. In lieu of the so-called spy incident, all the government offices have been told to be extra careful about receiving gifts from foreign entities as “they may contain listening devices or cameras”, the Times of Israel reported. A similar incident was reported in 2018 when the French newspaper Le Monde claimed that China had bugged the African Union’s headquarters, which Beijing had built and paid for in Addis Ababa. The article claimed that data was being transferred to Chinese since 2012 and it was only spotted in 2017 due to the spike in activity between midnight and 02:00, despite no one being in the building. The newspaper, quoting anonymous sources, claimed that following the discovery of the alleged data transfer, the AU officials changed their servers. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel suspects mugs gifted by Chinese embassy to ministers were bugged, launches probe

Kazakhstan's security services said Sunday they have arrested a foreign&nbsp;spy&nbsp;allegedly plotting an&nbsp;attack&nbsp;against the&nbsp;president&nbsp;and other high-level officials.

"A foreign&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;agent, a Kazakh citizen, was arrested&nbsp;on&nbsp;March 25 in Nur-Sultan by the counter-espionage&nbsp;services," the National Security Committee said in a statement.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sidelining-mentor-kazakhstan-president-takes-leadership-of-ruling-party-448566">&nbsp;Sidelining mentor, Kazakhstan president takes leadership of ruling party</a>

The suspect "was&nbsp;planning&nbsp;an&nbsp;attack&nbsp;against the&nbsp;president&nbsp;of&nbsp;Kazakhstan&nbsp;and a number of high-level officials," as well as against members of the special services and security forces, the statement said.&nbsp;

A foreign-made gun, drugs and large sums of money had been found during a search of his home.

Watch |&nbsp;Kazakhstan President Tokayev rejects calls for an international probe into a crisis that killed 200

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kazakhstan-president-tokayev-rejects-calls-for-an-international-probe-into-a-crisis-that-killed-200-448867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The statement added the suspect had confessed after his arrest and a terrorism investigation had been opened.&nbsp;

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's richest country, descended into violence in early January when peaceful protests over a fuel price hike unravelled into bloody clashes and looting.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-troops-withdraw-from-kazakhstan-as-state-of-emergency-ends-445939">Russian troops withdraw from Kazakhstan as state of emergency ends</a>

More than 200 died and&nbsp;President&nbsp;Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called in troops from a Russia-led security bloc to re-establish control.

Kazakhstan&nbsp;framed the violence as an&nbsp;attack&nbsp;by "terrorist groups" and has criticised foreign media coverage of the events.&nbsp;

Kazakhstan's security services said Sunday they have arrested a foreign spy allegedly plotting an attack against the president and other high-level officials. "A foreign intelligence agent, a Kazakh citizen, was arrested on March 25 in Nur-Sultan by the counter-espionage services," the National Security Committee said in a statement.

Kazakhstan's security services said Sunday they have arrested a foreign spy allegedly plotting an attack against the president and other high-level officials. "A foreign intelligence agent, a Kazakh citizen, was arrested on March 25 in Nur-Sultan by the counter-espionage services," the National Security Committee said in a statement. Also read | Sidelining mentor, Kazakhstan president takes leadership of ruling party The suspect "was planning an attack against the president of Kazakhstan and a number of high-level officials," as well as against members of the special services and security forces, the statement said. A foreign-made gun, drugs and large sums of money had been found during a search of his home. Watch | Kazakhstan President Tokayev rejects calls for an international probe into a crisis that killed 200 The statement added the suspect had confessed after his arrest and a terrorism investigation had been opened. Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's richest country, descended into violence in early January when peaceful protests over a fuel price hike unravelled into bloody clashes and looting. Also read | Russian troops withdraw from Kazakhstan as state of emergency ends More than 200 died and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called in troops from a Russia-led security bloc to re-establish control. Kazakhstan framed the violence as an attack by "terrorist groups" and has criticised foreign media coverage of the events.

Kazakhstan arrests spy 'planning attack' on president

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, people are protesting across the world. Now, Russian Journalist Marina Ovsyannikova who protested against the invasion on live news has been called 'A Spy' by Russia.

Marina Ovsyannikova called 'A Spy' by Russia after she staged a protest on live news

When Gang Chen returned to his laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday, the day after the government had dismissed charges of lying on grant applications, he was surrounded by well-wishers, offering hugs and congratulations.

There were invitations, too. Colleagues were asking him to join funded research studies, resuming the work that has occupied his adult life.

Chen studies heat transfer; he hopes to develop a semiconductor that could convert heat from car exhaust into electricity, or fabric for clothing that could cool the body. During the year since his arrest, that had been the hardest thing — tearing himself away from research.

Chen said thank you, but no. After the experience of the past year — the early-morning arrest, the handcuffs and shackles, being described, in a news conference, as loyal to China — he is uncertain if he will ever feel safe applying for U.S. government funds for research again.

“You work hard; you have good output; you build a reputation,” Chen said in a 3 1/2-hour interview at his MIT office, the first he has given about the case. “The government gets what they want, right? But in the end, you’re treated like a spy. That just breaks your heart. It breaks your confidence.”

Last week, the government dismissed the case against Chen, which alleged that he had concealed seven Chinese affiliations in applications for $2.7 million in grants from the U.S. Energy Department. Prosecutors announced that they had received new information indicating that Chen had not been obliged to disclose those affiliations, undercutting the basis of the case.

“We understand that our charging decisions deeply impact people’s lives,” said Rachael Rollins, who was sworn in this month as the new U.S. attorney in Massachusetts. “As United States attorney, I will always encourage the prosecutors in our office to engage in this type of rigorous and continued review at every stage of a proceeding. Today’s dismissal is a result of that process.”

The dismissal is a setback to the China Initiative, an effort started in 2018 to crack down on economic and scientific espionage by China. Many of the prosecutions, like the case against Chen, do not allege espionage or theft of information, but something narrower: failing to disclose Chinese affiliations in grant applications to U.S. agencies. Critics say it has instilled a pervasive atmosphere of fear among scientists of Chinese descent.

Chen described the experience of the past year as traumatic and deeply disillusioning.

In recent months, prosecutors floated an agreement in which the government would have dropped the criminal charges in exchange for acknowledgment of some links to China, he said. He refused it, he said.

“That’s just my mentality,” he said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The son of two mathematics teachers who were sent to teach on farms during China’s Cultural Revolution, Chen grew up without any hope of becoming a scientist. His parents, the descendants of landowners, had a “bad classification” from the Chinese government and were viewed suspiciously. His father warned him he would probably spend his life as a farmer.

But then Mao Zedong died. Chen was one of the first classes of Chinese students to take standardized tests, and his scores vaulted him into an academic elite. He immigrated to the United States at 25 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000.

During his years at MIT, he added, he had often dissuaded scientists who were being recruited to take their research out of the United States. The prosecutions of scientists in the United States have shaken him so deeply, he said, that he isn’t sure he would do that again.

“I don’t know whether I could give the same advice,” he said. “I don’t know how this is going to develop. I think the country must wake up. We are killing ourselves. We are committing a real suicidal act, right? I really don’t know how to advise people now on this. Maybe give it some time. I don’t know. It’s hard to say.”

An Early-morning Arrest

By 2019, the Department of Justice had begun to announce charges against scientists collaborating with Chinese institutions. Chen followed the cases casually, through friends and colleagues. He decided against taking a sabbatical year in China, for fear it would make him a target.

In January 2020, he was alarmed by the arrest of Charles M. Lieber, head of Harvard’s chemistry department, who was charged with hiding his participation in China’s Thousand Talents recruitment program. But neither Chen nor his colleagues saw parallels with their own activities, he said.

“Most of us, when we looked at the government accusation, we said, ‘Wow, he did that?’ ” he said. “You see, you tend to believe in government.”

But he, too, was under investigation. That same month, Chen was detained for two or three hours at Logan International Airport in Boston as he returned from a trip to China, Egypt and Morocco. He answered questions from a Homeland Security agent, balking only at the end of the interview, when the agents asked for the passwords to his devices.

MIT provided him an outside counsel, Robert Fisher, a former prosecutor who met with him eight times over the course of the next year. Still, Chen said, he had little concern that the investigation would result in anything.

“My thinking is, I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “So whatever they look at, they won’t find that I did anything wrong.”

At 6:30 a.m. Jan. 14, 2021, he was making coffee when someone came to the door. He opened it to see between 10 and 20 federal agents. He was told to stand in a corner while agents went to wake his wife and daughter. When his wife saw that he was being handcuffed and led away, she began to speak to the FBI agents, and he considered calling out to her, to tell her to stop, but was afraid to speak.

“I didn’t dare use Chinese — because I spoke with her in Mandarin, right, most of the time — but I didn’t dare to use Chinese,” he said. “I regret so much, once they took me away, because I should have shouted in Chinese to her, ‘Anything you say can be used against you.’ ”

Chen spent the next few hours in custody, pacing in his cell and then doing yoga. He remembers asking the FBI agents whether they had been asked to make sure he did not kill himself and reassuring them that he did not intend to. When he was finally released, around 2 p.m., and was in a car on the way home, he began shaking.

Chen, who has experimented with standup comedy, joked — half-joked — that the experience had so disgusted them that both he and his wife lost weight.

“We were both of us so disgusted,” he said. “We didn’t know what this word really meant. It’s real. Disgust is biological. We used to see this word, but it’s a biological reaction after everything that has happened.”

Chen was put on paid leave, so he was not allowed on campus or to have contact with MIT employees. He had five or six active research projects, and during the months that followed, they slowed and faltered. The 15 postdoctoral students he worked with were transferred to other research groups, taking their knowledge with them.

“We are all losers, right?” Chen said. “My reputation got ruined. My students, my post-docs, they changed their career. They changed to other groups. MIT, the country, the U.S., we lose. I can’t calculate the loss. That loss cannot be calculated.”

In September, he got good news. Prosecutors had floated the idea of a deferred prosecution agreement, which would have allowed him to return to work and apply for government grants in the future. In return, said his lawyer, Fisher, he would have to admit to having some ties to China, none of them a violation of the law.

Such a deal, Fisher said, is “very, very rare” and would have insulated Chen from the risk of going to trial, something Fisher tried to impress on Chen.

“A lot of people would view that as a win,” he said. “I told him, ‘God, this is going to be crushing for me if we get a guilty at trial and I’m sitting with you in the courtroom.’ ”

Chen said he considered the deal seriously. But he feared that there would be lingering questions about his innocence or that he would be asked to speak to prosecutors about his colleagues.

“I would never incriminate anybody,” he said. “And seeing how terribly they can stretch the facts, I have zero confidence in them. Absolute zero.”

When the government’s motion to dismiss charges was made public Thursday, Chen was inundated with congratulations from colleagues. But he was somber.

“It’s hard to tell them directly that there is nothing to congratulate,” he said. “It’s just a sad history, sad for the country.”

He is not certain how he will resume his scientific career. Without a research group or a funding stream, he has been working on individual research papers. On Thursday, the day the charges were dropped, he woke up at 4:30 a.m. to finish a paper on energy transfer in water.

But he said speaking out about the China Initiative felt like an obligation. In an editorial in The Boston Globe this week, Chen has called for Congress and the Department of Justice to review his case and hold people involved in the prosecution accountable.

And for now, at least, he has no interest in research grants from the U.S. government.

“I am angry; I am afraid,” he said. “My love is science. I did not want politics, right? I saw that, and I got away from it. I do my devotion to science. I help people, I support. But I learned that you can’t get away. Politics impacts everybody. So if there are things that are not right, we all need to speak out.”

When Gang Chen returned to his laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday, the day after the government had dismissed charges of lying on grant applications, he was surrounded by well-wishers, offering hugs and congratulations.

When Gang Chen returned to his laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday, the day after the government had dismissed charges of lying on grant applications, he was surrounded by well-wishers, offering hugs and congratulations. There were invitations, too. Colleagues were asking him to join funded research studies, resuming the work that has occupied his adult life. Chen studies heat transfer; he hopes to develop a semiconductor that could convert heat from car exhaust into electricity, or fabric for clothing that could cool the body. During the year since his arrest, that had been the hardest thing — tearing himself away from research. Chen said thank you, but no. After the experience of the past year — the early-morning arrest, the handcuffs and shackles, being described, in a news conference, as loyal to China — he is uncertain if he will ever feel safe applying for U.S. government funds for research again. “You work hard; you have good output; you build a reputation,” Chen said in a 3 1/2-hour interview at his MIT office, the first he has given about the case. “The government gets what they want, right? But in the end, you’re treated like a spy. That just breaks your heart. It breaks your confidence.” Last week, the government dismissed the case against Chen, which alleged that he had concealed seven Chinese affiliations in applications for $2.7 million in grants from the U.S. Energy Department. Prosecutors announced that they had received new information indicating that Chen had not been obliged to disclose those affiliations, undercutting the basis of the case. “We understand that our charging decisions deeply impact people’s lives,” said Rachael Rollins, who was sworn in this month as the new U.S. attorney in Massachusetts. “As United States attorney, I will always encourage the prosecutors in our office to engage in this type of rigorous and continued review at every stage of a proceeding. Today’s dismissal is a result of that process.” The dismissal is a setback to the China Initiative, an effort started in 2018 to crack down on economic and scientific espionage by China. Many of the prosecutions, like the case against Chen, do not allege espionage or theft of information, but something narrower: failing to disclose Chinese affiliations in grant applications to U.S. agencies. Critics say it has instilled a pervasive atmosphere of fear among scientists of Chinese descent. Chen described the experience of the past year as traumatic and deeply disillusioning. In recent months, prosecutors floated an agreement in which the government would have dropped the criminal charges in exchange for acknowledgment of some links to China, he said. He refused it, he said. “That’s just my mentality,” he said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” The son of two mathematics teachers who were sent to teach on farms during China’s Cultural Revolution, Chen grew up without any hope of becoming a scientist. His parents, the descendants of landowners, had a “bad classification” from the Chinese government and were viewed suspiciously. His father warned him he would probably spend his life as a farmer. But then Mao Zedong died. Chen was one of the first classes of Chinese students to take standardized tests, and his scores vaulted him into an academic elite. He immigrated to the United States at 25 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000. During his years at MIT, he added, he had often dissuaded scientists who were being recruited to take their research out of the United States. The prosecutions of scientists in the United States have shaken him so deeply, he said, that he isn’t sure he would do that again. “I don’t know whether I could give the same advice,” he said. “I don’t know how this is going to develop. I think the country must wake up. We are killing ourselves. We are committing a real suicidal act, right? I really don’t know how to advise people now on this. Maybe give it some time. I don’t know. It’s hard to say.” An Early-morning Arrest By 2019, the Department of Justice had begun to announce charges against scientists collaborating with Chinese institutions. Chen followed the cases casually, through friends and colleagues. He decided against taking a sabbatical year in China, for fear it would make him a target. In January 2020, he was alarmed by the arrest of Charles M. Lieber, head of Harvard’s chemistry department, who was charged with hiding his participation in China’s Thousand Talents recruitment program. But neither Chen nor his colleagues saw parallels with their own activities, he said. “Most of us, when we looked at the government accusation, we said, ‘Wow, he did that?’ ” he said. “You see, you tend to believe in government.” But he, too, was under investigation. That same month, Chen was detained for two or three hours at Logan International Airport in Boston as he returned from a trip to China, Egypt and Morocco. He answered questions from a Homeland Security agent, balking only at the end of the interview, when the agents asked for the passwords to his devices. MIT provided him an outside counsel, Robert Fisher, a former prosecutor who met with him eight times over the course of the next year. Still, Chen said, he had little concern that the investigation would result in anything. “My thinking is, I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “So whatever they look at, they won’t find that I did anything wrong.” At 6:30 a.m. Jan. 14, 2021, he was making coffee when someone came to the door. He opened it to see between 10 and 20 federal agents. He was told to stand in a corner while agents went to wake his wife and daughter. When his wife saw that he was being handcuffed and led away, she began to speak to the FBI agents, and he considered calling out to her, to tell her to stop, but was afraid to speak. “I didn’t dare use Chinese — because I spoke with her in Mandarin, right, most of the time — but I didn’t dare to use Chinese,” he said. “I regret so much, once they took me away, because I should have shouted in Chinese to her, ‘Anything you say can be used against you.’ ” Chen spent the next few hours in custody, pacing in his cell and then doing yoga. He remembers asking the FBI agents whether they had been asked to make sure he did not kill himself and reassuring them that he did not intend to. When he was finally released, around 2 p.m., and was in a car on the way home, he began shaking. Chen, who has experimented with standup comedy, joked — half-joked — that the experience had so disgusted them that both he and his wife lost weight. “We were both of us so disgusted,” he said. “We didn’t know what this word really meant. It’s real. Disgust is biological. We used to see this word, but it’s a biological reaction after everything that has happened.” Chen was put on paid leave, so he was not allowed on campus or to have contact with MIT employees. He had five or six active research projects, and during the months that followed, they slowed and faltered. The 15 postdoctoral students he worked with were transferred to other research groups, taking their knowledge with them. “We are all losers, right?” Chen said. “My reputation got ruined. My students, my post-docs, they changed their career. They changed to other groups. MIT, the country, the U.S., we lose. I can’t calculate the loss. That loss cannot be calculated.” In September, he got good news. Prosecutors had floated the idea of a deferred prosecution agreement, which would have allowed him to return to work and apply for government grants in the future. In return, said his lawyer, Fisher, he would have to admit to having some ties to China, none of them a violation of the law. Such a deal, Fisher said, is “very, very rare” and would have insulated Chen from the risk of going to trial, something Fisher tried to impress on Chen. “A lot of people would view that as a win,” he said. “I told him, ‘God, this is going to be crushing for me if we get a guilty at trial and I’m sitting with you in the courtroom.’ ” Chen said he considered the deal seriously. But he feared that there would be lingering questions about his innocence or that he would be asked to speak to prosecutors about his colleagues. “I would never incriminate anybody,” he said. “And seeing how terribly they can stretch the facts, I have zero confidence in them. Absolute zero.” When the government’s motion to dismiss charges was made public Thursday, Chen was inundated with congratulations from colleagues. But he was somber. “It’s hard to tell them directly that there is nothing to congratulate,” he said. “It’s just a sad history, sad for the country.” He is not certain how he will resume his scientific career. Without a research group or a funding stream, he has been working on individual research papers. On Thursday, the day the charges were dropped, he woke up at 4:30 a.m. to finish a paper on energy transfer in water. But he said speaking out about the China Initiative felt like an obligation. In an editorial in The Boston Globe this week, Chen has called for Congress and the Department of Justice to review his case and hold people involved in the prosecution accountable. And for now, at least, he has no interest in research grants from the U.S. government. “I am angry; I am afraid,” he said. “My love is science. I did not want politics, right? I saw that, and I got away from it. I do my devotion to science. I help people, I support. But I learned that you can’t get away. Politics impacts everybody. So if there are things that are not right, we all need to speak out.”

‘In the end, you’re treated like a spy,’ says MIT scientist

Adding to the current political crisis in the United Kingdom, the British intelligence service has now warned of foreign interference into the country for the very first time.

British intelligence service MI5 accuses China of political interference in the UK

Social media giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, ran a massive crackdown on spy firms on its platform as it suspended over 1,500 accounts.

Social media giant Meta crackdowns on spy firms on its platform & suspends over 1,500 accounts

Facebook's parent company Meta crackdown on spy firm on its platform as it suspends 1,500 accounts for targeting 50,000 people.

Meta crackdown on spy firms: 1,500 accounts suspended

On July 28, Diana Toebbe posted a Facebook message looking for a babysitter to take care of her children early on the coming Saturday morning for five to six hours.

Later the post, visible only to friends, was updated with the word “*FOUND*.” And on that Saturday, Toebbe accompanied her husband, Jonathan, to south-central Pennsylvania.

Unbeknown to Diana Toebbe, she and her husband were being watched by the FBI as they left their home in Annapolis, Maryland. And the bureau’s agents continued to watch in Pennsylvania as Jonathan Toebbe removed from his shorts pocket a 32-gigabyte memory card hidden in a sealed Band-Aid wrapper, which he then, according to court papers, placed in a container set up by an undercover FBI operative.

The Toebbes, accused by the U.S. government of trying to sell some of America’s most closely guarded submarine propulsion secrets to a foreign government, are scheduled to appear in federal court in West Virginia on Tuesday. They will face charges related to violating the Atomic Energy Act’s prohibition on sharing nuclear know-how.

For now, the big questions surrounding the couple — what country they are accused of trying to sell the nuclear secrets to and what motivated them to take the risk — remain unanswered.

Jonathan Toebbe was described by acquaintances as a diligent and organized graduate student in nuclear physics who was commissioned in the Navy as an officer and expert in submarine propulsion. He continued as a civilian in the Navy after finishing his military service, considered by some a plum assignment for the most talented nuclear physicists.

Diana Toebbe was a 10-year veteran of the Key School, a progressive private school in Annapolis, where she taught history and English. There, according to parents, she was prone to talking about her doctorate in anthropology from Emory University and her love of knitting. She was a respected adviser, both formally and informally, at the school.

“You could just tell she was insanely smart,” said Craig Martien, 20, a 2019 graduate of Key School who worked closely with Toebbe on the yearbook and an after-school anthropology club. “She was very friendly and down-to-earth, and I got along with her very well.”

When Martien went off to Williams College, he brought along a toy squid that Toebbe had knitted. Like other Key graduates, Martien described her as a strong feminist and very liberal.

She was taken aback by the election of Donald Trump in 2016, he said, and mentioned several times that she was considering moving to Australia.

“She said she couldn’t stand the current state of politics and actually had found some job opportunities over there,” he said.

On social media platforms, Diana Toebbe shared photos of her dogs, her children, meals cooking on the stove, a family vacation and selfies — ordinary scenes of an ordinary life, one far different from the amateur cloak-and-dagger act portrayed in the FBI affidavit.

Having made contact with the as-yet undisclosed other country about providing submarine secrets, the Toebbes were reluctant to expose themselves in an in-person meeting, according to the narrative laid out in court documents by the FBI. But their apparent desire for cryptocurrency payments led them to agree to the undercover operative’s demand they deposit information in a dead drop location — a decision that ultimately exposed their identity to the FBI.

Evidence in the court documents suggests the foreign country the Toebbes allegedly tried to sell the information to was an ally, or at least something of a partner, since it cooperated with the FBI as the sting operation unfolded. While some experts speculated France could have been the target, French officials said they were not involved in the incident.

The hearing Tuesday will be short. So far as the government knows, neither Jonathan nor Diana Toebbe has a lawyer. Prosecutors asked the court Monday to hold Jonathan Toebbe rather than granting him bail, saying he could face life in prison and was a flight threat. The magistrate judge could also set a hearing date for the couple’s continued detention.

Public records searches turned up no signs of financial distress that could provide a motivation for them to try to sell U.S. secrets.

Yet the FBI affidavit portrayed the couple as willing to take risks for the promise of payments in a cryptocurrency called Monero.

In February, FBI agents, posing as a representative of the foreign country, proposed an in-person meeting. The response, which was signed “Alice,” a common place-holder name in military cryptography, wrote that “face to face meetings are very risky for me, as I am sure you understand,” according to the affidavit. The writer then proposed passing information electronically in exchange for $100,000 in the cryptocurrency.

“Please remember I am risking my life for your benefit and I have taken the first step. Please help me trust you fully,” the note to the undercover FBI agents read.

The FBI agents then pressed for a neutral drop location. The response came a few days later: “I am concerned that using a dead drop location your friend prepares makes me very vulnerable,” the note from “Alice” said, according to the affidavit. “If other interested parties are observing the location, I will be unable to detect them. I am not a professional, and do not have a team supporting me.”

The note went on to propose that the writer would choose a drop location for the encrypted files. The FBI agents responded that they would give first $10,000 then $20,000 in cryptocurrency at a drop location of their choosing.

“I am sorry to be so stubborn and untrusting, but I cannot agree to go to a location of your choosing,” the response from “Alice” said. “I must consider the possibility that l am communicating with an adversary who has intercepted my first message and is attempting to expose me.”

The writer next proposed that the country provide reassurance by sending a signal from its complex in Washington over Memorial Day weekend.

Writing from an encrypted Proton mail account, “Alice” said the signal had been received and agreed to drop the material at the location chosen by the undercover operative — a mistake in tradecraft, some experts said.

“It was somewhat surprising that someone who has studied submarine warfare follows the FBI’s direction to surface for these supposedly clandestine drop-offs,” said Michael Atkinson, a former inspector general for the intelligence community.

The willingness on the part of the country to convey the unspecified signal suggests its cooperation with the United States throughout the investigation. Atkinson said it was very unusual for a foreign country to allow its embassy or other facility to be used to send a signal to a suspect being pursued by the FBI.

Atkinson, now a partner at the law firm Crowell &amp; Moring, said a similar false flag operation by the FBI involving a government scientist trying to sell secrets to an ally resulted in a prison sentence of 13 years after a plea bargain.

At the Key School, where Diana Toebbe taught, and in their Annapolis neighborhood, colleagues, students and neighbors tried to process the arrest of the couple and the accusations against them.

Luke Koerschner, 20, a 2019 Key School graduate now at Michigan State University, was in Toebbe’s advisory group for four years. He described her as “very friendly and welcoming,” an outgoing teacher who loved to cheer on her students in the school’s cornhole tournaments.

Matthew Nespole, head of the Key School, said he was “shocked and appalled” to learn of the charges against the Toebbes and that the school “supports the administration of justice by the FBI and NCIS, and will cooperate with the investigation.” The Key School placed Diana Toebbe on leave indefinitely.

On July 28, Diana Toebbe posted a Facebook message looking for a babysitter to take care of her children early on the coming Saturday morning for five to six hours.

On July 28, Diana Toebbe posted a Facebook message looking for a babysitter to take care of her children early on the coming Saturday morning for five to six hours. Later the post, visible only to friends, was updated with the word “*FOUND*.” And on that Saturday, Toebbe accompanied her husband, Jonathan, to south-central Pennsylvania. Unbeknown to Diana Toebbe, she and her husband were being watched by the FBI as they left their home in Annapolis, Maryland. And the bureau’s agents continued to watch in Pennsylvania as Jonathan Toebbe removed from his shorts pocket a 32-gigabyte memory card hidden in a sealed Band-Aid wrapper, which he then, according to court papers, placed in a container set up by an undercover FBI operative. The Toebbes, accused by the U.S. government of trying to sell some of America’s most closely guarded submarine propulsion secrets to a foreign government, are scheduled to appear in federal court in West Virginia on Tuesday. They will face charges related to violating the Atomic Energy Act’s prohibition on sharing nuclear know-how. For now, the big questions surrounding the couple — what country they are accused of trying to sell the nuclear secrets to and what motivated them to take the risk — remain unanswered. Jonathan Toebbe was described by acquaintances as a diligent and organized graduate student in nuclear physics who was commissioned in the Navy as an officer and expert in submarine propulsion. He continued as a civilian in the Navy after finishing his military service, considered by some a plum assignment for the most talented nuclear physicists. Diana Toebbe was a 10-year veteran of the Key School, a progressive private school in Annapolis, where she taught history and English. There, according to parents, she was prone to talking about her doctorate in anthropology from Emory University and her love of knitting. She was a respected adviser, both formally and informally, at the school. “You could just tell she was insanely smart,” said Craig Martien, 20, a 2019 graduate of Key School who worked closely with Toebbe on the yearbook and an after-school anthropology club. “She was very friendly and down-to-earth, and I got along with her very well.” When Martien went off to Williams College, he brought along a toy squid that Toebbe had knitted. Like other Key graduates, Martien described her as a strong feminist and very liberal. She was taken aback by the election of Donald Trump in 2016, he said, and mentioned several times that she was considering moving to Australia. “She said she couldn’t stand the current state of politics and actually had found some job opportunities over there,” he said. On social media platforms, Diana Toebbe shared photos of her dogs, her children, meals cooking on the stove, a family vacation and selfies — ordinary scenes of an ordinary life, one far different from the amateur cloak-and-dagger act portrayed in the FBI affidavit. Having made contact with the as-yet undisclosed other country about providing submarine secrets, the Toebbes were reluctant to expose themselves in an in-person meeting, according to the narrative laid out in court documents by the FBI. But their apparent desire for cryptocurrency payments led them to agree to the undercover operative’s demand they deposit information in a dead drop location — a decision that ultimately exposed their identity to the FBI. Evidence in the court documents suggests the foreign country the Toebbes allegedly tried to sell the information to was an ally, or at least something of a partner, since it cooperated with the FBI as the sting operation unfolded. While some experts speculated France could have been the target, French officials said they were not involved in the incident. The hearing Tuesday will be short. So far as the government knows, neither Jonathan nor Diana Toebbe has a lawyer. Prosecutors asked the court Monday to hold Jonathan Toebbe rather than granting him bail, saying he could face life in prison and was a flight threat. The magistrate judge could also set a hearing date for the couple’s continued detention. Public records searches turned up no signs of financial distress that could provide a motivation for them to try to sell U.S. secrets. Yet the FBI affidavit portrayed the couple as willing to take risks for the promise of payments in a cryptocurrency called Monero. In February, FBI agents, posing as a representative of the foreign country, proposed an in-person meeting. The response, which was signed “Alice,” a common place-holder name in military cryptography, wrote that “face to face meetings are very risky for me, as I am sure you understand,” according to the affidavit. The writer then proposed passing information electronically in exchange for $100,000 in the cryptocurrency. “Please remember I am risking my life for your benefit and I have taken the first step. Please help me trust you fully,” the note to the undercover FBI agents read. The FBI agents then pressed for a neutral drop location. The response came a few days later: “I am concerned that using a dead drop location your friend prepares makes me very vulnerable,” the note from “Alice” said, according to the affidavit. “If other interested parties are observing the location, I will be unable to detect them. I am not a professional, and do not have a team supporting me.” The note went on to propose that the writer would choose a drop location for the encrypted files. The FBI agents responded that they would give first $10,000 then $20,000 in cryptocurrency at a drop location of their choosing. “I am sorry to be so stubborn and untrusting, but I cannot agree to go to a location of your choosing,” the response from “Alice” said. “I must consider the possibility that l am communicating with an adversary who has intercepted my first message and is attempting to expose me.” The writer next proposed that the country provide reassurance by sending a signal from its complex in Washington over Memorial Day weekend. Writing from an encrypted Proton mail account, “Alice” said the signal had been received and agreed to drop the material at the location chosen by the undercover operative — a mistake in tradecraft, some experts said. “It was somewhat surprising that someone who has studied submarine warfare follows the FBI’s direction to surface for these supposedly clandestine drop-offs,” said Michael Atkinson, a former inspector general for the intelligence community. The willingness on the part of the country to convey the unspecified signal suggests its cooperation with the United States throughout the investigation. Atkinson said it was very unusual for a foreign country to allow its embassy or other facility to be used to send a signal to a suspect being pursued by the FBI. Atkinson, now a partner at the law firm Crowell & Moring, said a similar false flag operation by the FBI involving a government scientist trying to sell secrets to an ally resulted in a prison sentence of 13 years after a plea bargain. At the Key School, where Diana Toebbe taught, and in their Annapolis neighborhood, colleagues, students and neighbors tried to process the arrest of the couple and the accusations against them. Luke Koerschner, 20, a 2019 Key School graduate now at Michigan State University, was in Toebbe’s advisory group for four years. He described her as “very friendly and welcoming,” an outgoing teacher who loved to cheer on her students in the school’s cornhole tournaments. Matthew Nespole, head of the Key School, said he was “shocked and appalled” to learn of the charges against the Toebbes and that the school “supports the administration of justice by the FBI and NCIS, and will cooperate with the investigation.” The Key School placed Diana Toebbe on leave indefinitely.

A babysitter and a band-aid wrapper: Inside the submarine spy case

Eight "undeclared" Russian intelligence personnel were ejected from Moscow's delegation to NATO's defence alliance in Brussels on Wednesday. 
 
According to Sky News, the expulsions were carried out "in reaction to suspected harmful Russian operations, such as murder and espionage."&nbsp;

"We can confirm that we have withdrawn the accreditation of eight members of the Russian Mission to NATO, who were undeclared Russian intelligence officers," a NATO official said, per the Associated Press.

"NATO's strategy toward Russia is unchanged.In response to Russia's provocative measures, we have increased our deterrent and defensive capabilities while remaining open to constructive engagement, "added the official.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-remains-bedrock-for-european-security-says-stoltenberg-amid-aukus-row-418607">Also read | NATO remains bedrock for European security, says Stoltenberg amid AUKUS row</a>

NATO is also decreasing the size of Russia's delegation from 20 to 10.

A request for comment from Insider was not immediately returned by the Russian authorities.

The eight Russians were expelled at a time when relations between Moscow and the West are at an all-time high, owing in large part to Russia's unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-foreign-minister-lavrov-slams-quad-aukus-417837">Also Read:&nbsp;Russia's foreign minister Lavrov slams Quad, AUKUS</a>

It is the first time NATO has taken such action against Moscow since seven Russian ambassadors were removed from the mission following the Salisbury espionage poisonings in 2018.

The West, according to Russian authorities, is exploiting Moscow as a "bogeyman."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Eight "undeclared" Russian intelligence personnel were ejected from Moscow's delegation to NATO's defence alliance in Brussels on Wednesday. According to Sky News, the expulsions were carried out "in reaction to suspected harmful Russian operations, such as murder and espionage.

Eight "undeclared" Russian intelligence personnel were ejected from Moscow's delegation to NATO's defence alliance in Brussels on Wednesday. According to Sky News, the expulsions were carried out "in reaction to suspected harmful Russian operations, such as murder and espionage." "We can confirm that we have withdrawn the accreditation of eight members of the Russian Mission to NATO, who were undeclared Russian intelligence officers," a NATO official said, per the Associated Press. "NATO's strategy toward Russia is unchanged.In response to Russia's provocative measures, we have increased our deterrent and defensive capabilities while remaining open to constructive engagement, "added the official. Also read | NATO remains bedrock for European security, says Stoltenberg amid AUKUS row NATO is also decreasing the size of Russia's delegation from 20 to 10. A request for comment from Insider was not immediately returned by the Russian authorities. The eight Russians were expelled at a time when relations between Moscow and the West are at an all-time high, owing in large part to Russia's unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014. Also Read: Russia's foreign minister Lavrov slams Quad, AUKUS It is the first time NATO has taken such action against Moscow since seven Russian ambassadors were removed from the mission following the Salisbury espionage poisonings in 2018. The West, according to Russian authorities, is exploiting Moscow as a "bogeyman." (With inputs from agencies)

NATO expels eight Russians from its mission, claiming they were working as intelligence officers

A woman in the UK has accused a police spy of raping her by tricking her into a sexual relationship.&nbsp;

She said that spy Vince Miller tricked her into a sexual relationship that lasted for two months, reports The Guardian.

However, Miller said that the duo had a sexual encounter for one night.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="wionews.com/technology/britains-secret-intelligence-service-mi6-looking-for-new-q-spy-tech-master-381555">Britain's Secret Intelligence Service MI6 looking for new 'Q' spy tech master</a>

The woman said that the relationship began when she was "fragile and vulnerable" after the end of her abusive marriage.

She said the relationship was rape and added that Miller broke her trust.&nbsp;

A retired judge, Sir John Mitting, is leading the inquiry that is probing the conduct of about 139 undercover officers who spied over 1,000 political organisations since 1968.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="wionews.com/world/germany-ropes-in-spy-agency-to-monitor-anti-vaxxers-covid-deniers-381096">Germany ropes in spy agency to monitor anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers</a>

Miller, who spied Socialist Workers Party from 1976 to 1979, earlier told the inquiry that he had "one night stands" with four women when he went undercover.&nbsp;

The woman on Monday said that Miller's account of the nature of their relationship was "untrue and there is no possible justification for it ever having taken place."

She also said that she had been devastated if she had known the true details then.&nbsp;

"I trusted him … it would have been an absolute betrayal … I know that I would have regarded, as I do regard it now, as rape," the woman said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A woman in the UK has accused a police spy of raping her by tricking her into a sexual relationship. She said that spy Vince Miller tricked her into a sexual relationship that lasted for two months, reports The Guardian.

A woman in the UK has accused a police spy of raping her by tricking her into a sexual relationship. She said that spy Vince Miller tricked her into a sexual relationship that lasted for two months, reports The Guardian. However, Miller said that the duo had a sexual encounter for one night. Also read | Britain's Secret Intelligence Service MI6 looking for new 'Q' spy tech master The woman said that the relationship began when she was "fragile and vulnerable" after the end of her abusive marriage. She said the relationship was rape and added that Miller broke her trust. A retired judge, Sir John Mitting, is leading the inquiry that is probing the conduct of about 139 undercover officers who spied over 1,000 political organisations since 1968. Also read | Germany ropes in spy agency to monitor anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers Miller, who spied Socialist Workers Party from 1976 to 1979, earlier told the inquiry that he had "one night stands" with four women when he went undercover. The woman on Monday said that Miller's account of the nature of their relationship was "untrue and there is no possible justification for it ever having taken place." She also said that she had been devastated if she had known the true details then. "I trusted him … it would have been an absolute betrayal … I know that I would have regarded, as I do regard it now, as rape," the woman said.

UK: Woman accuses spy of rape by tricking her into relationship

Iran has arrested an ‘Israeli spy’ and a number of other people, who were in contact with foreign intelligence services, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without giving the nationality of those arrested.

"An Israeli spy has been arrested in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province ... also other spies, who were in contact with several countries’ intelligence services have been arrested as well," it quoted an Intelligence Ministry official as saying.&nbsp;

Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the report.

The Islamic Republic does not recognise Israel and has accused it of being behind acts of sabotage and assassinations of nuclear scientists.

An Iranian convicted of spying for US and Israeli intelligence was executed in 2020.&nbsp;

Iran has blamed Israel for last year’s killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was seen by Western intelligence services as the mastermind of a covert Iranian nuclear weapons programme.&nbsp;

Tehran has denied seeking to build a nuclear arsenal. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the killing.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran has arrested an ‘Israeli spy’ and a number of other people, who were in contact with foreign intelligence services, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without giving the nationality of those arrested.

Iran has arrested an ‘Israeli spy’ and a number of other people, who were in contact with foreign intelligence services, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without giving the nationality of those arrested. "An Israeli spy has been arrested in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province ... also other spies, who were in contact with several countries’ intelligence services have been arrested as well," it quoted an Intelligence Ministry official as saying. Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the report. The Islamic Republic does not recognise Israel and has accused it of being behind acts of sabotage and assassinations of nuclear scientists. An Iranian convicted of spying for US and Israeli intelligence was executed in 2020. Iran has blamed Israel for last year’s killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was seen by Western intelligence services as the mastermind of a covert Iranian nuclear weapons programme. Tehran has denied seeking to build a nuclear arsenal. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the killing. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran arrests 'Israeli spy', others in touch with foreign intelligence: Report

The UK has silently taken a step and expelled three Chinese spies who were working undercover as journalists. This declaration has come at a time when the tensions between the two countries have been growing over various issues.

The intelligence agency, MI5, had found out that the three spies had been originally working for China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). However, the three had been posing as journalists of the UK and using the country's press agencies as a cover.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-confirms-covid-19-vaccine-with-astrazeneca-works-against-uk-variant-361608" hreflang="en">Oxford confirms COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca works against UK variant</a>

Using journalism as a cover for spying has been an old form of espionage and has been a favourable method for the Chinese spies, especially the ones aiming for political and economic intelligence, especially from the first-world and powerful countries.

This has also raised concerns about the security within the country and the opposition has also called against the naive attitude of the UK government against China.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-plans-to-work-with-germanys-curevac-on-vaccines-against-coronavirus-variants-361599" hreflang="en">UK plans to work with Germany's CureVac on vaccines against coronavirus variants</a>

"We do need a more consistent view of China – and Russia – and understand more clearly how authoritarian and one-party states operate in the digital age," said Bob Seely, a Conservative MP.

Meanwhile, China has not openly commented on the issue yet. A foreign ministry spokesperson said that Beijing "reserves the right to make the necessary responses".

These Chinese foreign ministry has also alleged the BBC of publishing a "false report" as the UK media house aired an investigation that detailed and alleged&nbsp;China of treating the Uighur women in Chinese camps in an inhumane manner and subjecting them to systematic rape.&nbsp;

The UK has silently taken a step and expelled three Chinese spies who were working undercover as journalists. This declaration has come at a time when the tensions between the two countries have been growing over various issues.

The UK has silently taken a step and expelled three Chinese spies who were working undercover as journalists. This declaration has come at a time when the tensions between the two countries have been growing over various issues. The intelligence agency, MI5, had found out that the three spies had been originally working for China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). However, the three had been posing as journalists of the UK and using the country's press agencies as a cover. Also read| Oxford confirms COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca works against UK variant Using journalism as a cover for spying has been an old form of espionage and has been a favourable method for the Chinese spies, especially the ones aiming for political and economic intelligence, especially from the first-world and powerful countries. This has also raised concerns about the security within the country and the opposition has also called against the naive attitude of the UK government against China. Also read| UK plans to work with Germany's CureVac on vaccines against coronavirus variants "We do need a more consistent view of China – and Russia – and understand more clearly how authoritarian and one-party states operate in the digital age," said Bob Seely, a Conservative MP. Meanwhile, China has not openly commented on the issue yet. A foreign ministry spokesperson said that Beijing "reserves the right to make the necessary responses". These Chinese foreign ministry has also alleged the BBC of publishing a "false report" as the UK media house aired an investigation that detailed and alleged China of treating the Uighur women in Chinese camps in an inhumane manner and subjecting them to systematic rape.

UK expelled 3 Chinese spies posing as journalists

The&nbsp;Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border.

Maduro announced that the spy was caught&nbsp;in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border.

"Yesterday we captured... an American spy who was spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries," Maduro said in a televised address.

"Two days ago, Tarek El Aissami, together with a group of expert engineers and technological scientists, discovered and dismantled a plan to cause an explosion at the El Palito refinery," he explained.

The unnamed spy is&nbsp;a former US Marine who has been serving&nbsp;at CIA bases in Iraq. "He was captured with heavy weapons, specialized weaponry, he was captured with a large amount of dollars in cash, a large amount of dollars," Maduro said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-court-sentences-two-former-us-soldiers-to-20-years-in-prison-for-beach-attack-319132">Also read:&nbsp;Venezuela court sentences two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison for beach attack</a>

It is being reported that he was captured near two Venezuelan refineries, after authorities foiled a plot to "cause an explosion" at another oil complex.

Further details are to be released soon&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Venezuelan government.

The capture has been made few months after the 'Operation Gedeon', in which a private mercenary firm Silvercorp USA and the opposition political parties, reportedly, signed a deal to capture, detain or remove the President.

The attempted coup was spotted and stopped in the starting of May this year.

The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border. Maduro announced that the spy was caught in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border.

The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border. Maduro announced that the spy was caught in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border. "Yesterday we captured... an American spy who was spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries," Maduro said in a televised address. "Two days ago, Tarek El Aissami, together with a group of expert engineers and technological scientists, discovered and dismantled a plan to cause an explosion at the El Palito refinery," he explained. The unnamed spy is a former US Marine who has been serving at CIA bases in Iraq. "He was captured with heavy weapons, specialized weaponry, he was captured with a large amount of dollars in cash, a large amount of dollars," Maduro said. Also read: Venezuela court sentences two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison for beach attack It is being reported that he was captured near two Venezuelan refineries, after authorities foiled a plot to "cause an explosion" at another oil complex. Further details are to be released soon by the Venezuelan government. The capture has been made few months after the 'Operation Gedeon', in which a private mercenary firm Silvercorp USA and the opposition political parties, reportedly, signed a deal to capture, detain or remove the President. The attempted coup was spotted and stopped in the starting of May this year.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announces capture of 'American spy'

Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, a former US Forces officer, has been arrested and charged with spying for Moscow on Friday.

Debbins was a former officer for&nbsp;US Special Forces Green Berets, but was also working as a spy for Russia, the Justice Deprtment revealed.

"The facts alleged in this case are a shocking betrayal by a former Army officer of his fellow soldiers and his country," said FBI senior counterintelligence official Alan Kohler in a statement. Debbins will be facing a sentenced to prison for life, according to the charges filed.

Son of Russia

The former officer started working for Russia back in 1996, even before he joined the special forces. Russia is native home for Debbins' mother due to which he had taken several trips there, where he was then recruited.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lori-loughlin-and-husband-sentenced-to-jail-for-college-fraud-322313">Also read:&nbsp;Lori Loughlin and husband sentenced to jail for college fraud</a>

Investigations have revealed that Debbins met with Russian agents in&nbsp;Chelyabinsk while he was still finishing his university, and was approached as he was seen to be "pro-Russian" politics.

After being approached by the Russian agents, Debbins married his Russian girlfriend and joined the US milotary with the help of his father-in-law who was also in the military.

Termed as "Son of Russia", Debbins' Russian code name was&nbsp;Ikar Lesnikov.

When Debbins exoressed his desire to quit the military, he faced pressure from his Russian bosses and was instead pushed into joining the US Special Forces due to which he travelled to germany and later&nbsp;Azerbaijan.

However, the ties, reportedly, ended rather quickly later in 2011 when Debbins moved back to the US and started a graduate course. On the date of arrest, Debbins is reported to be a professor at the&nbsp;Wisconsin International University in Ukraine.

The FBI has denoucned the double agent and has called his actions to be an act of betrayal to his country and fellow soldiers.

Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, a former US Forces officer, has been arrested and charged with spying for Moscow on Friday. Debbins was a former officer for US Special Forces Green Berets, but was also working as a spy for Russia, the Justice Deprtment revealed.

Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, a former US Forces officer, has been arrested and charged with spying for Moscow on Friday. Debbins was a former officer for US Special Forces Green Berets, but was also working as a spy for Russia, the Justice Deprtment revealed. "The facts alleged in this case are a shocking betrayal by a former Army officer of his fellow soldiers and his country," said FBI senior counterintelligence official Alan Kohler in a statement. Debbins will be facing a sentenced to prison for life, according to the charges filed. Son of Russia The former officer started working for Russia back in 1996, even before he joined the special forces. Russia is native home for Debbins' mother due to which he had taken several trips there, where he was then recruited. Also read: Lori Loughlin and husband sentenced to jail for college fraud Investigations have revealed that Debbins met with Russian agents in Chelyabinsk while he was still finishing his university, and was approached as he was seen to be "pro-Russian" politics. After being approached by the Russian agents, Debbins married his Russian girlfriend and joined the US milotary with the help of his father-in-law who was also in the military. Termed as "Son of Russia", Debbins' Russian code name was Ikar Lesnikov. When Debbins exoressed his desire to quit the military, he faced pressure from his Russian bosses and was instead pushed into joining the US Special Forces due to which he travelled to germany and later Azerbaijan. However, the ties, reportedly, ended rather quickly later in 2011 when Debbins moved back to the US and started a graduate course. On the date of arrest, Debbins is reported to be a professor at the Wisconsin International University in Ukraine. The FBI has denoucned the double agent and has called his actions to be an act of betrayal to his country and fellow soldiers.

Former US Special Forces soldier charged with spying for Russia

Charlie Peng a Chinese national, who was arrested earlier this week by the Income Tax Department in connection with a Hawala racket operating in Delhi and NCR, had also bribed some Buddhist monks to collect information on the Dalai Lama. Watch report.

Chinese Hawala Scam: Charlie Peng used to bribe Tibetian monks for information on Dalai Lama

Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, an Iranian national, who was accused of spying on the US and Israeli intelligence has been executed on Monday, according to local news agencies.

The spy was arrested in 2018 after he was accused of spying on former&nbsp;Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani.

The execution of the alleged spy took place at a time when the Iranian locals have been verbally and physically protesting against the death sentences given to three nationals who have been accused of participating and leading the 'anti-government' protests in November 2019. The executions were suspended after a hashtag, loosely translated to "Don’t execute" in English, started widely trending on Twitter.

The judiciary had made it clear that the death sentence was not for&nbsp;involvement in killing of the leader&nbsp;of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force,&nbsp;Soleimani, who was accused of being the mastermind of the attacks by Iran-aligned militias on US forces in the region and was later assassinated in January 2020 in a US drone strike. Mahmoud was alleged of supplying information about Soleimani's whereabouts to the US, according judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili.

Officials have not cleared the air around whether Mahmoud was one of the 17 CIA spies captured last year by Iran. However, Mahmoud was revealed to be a spy of the CIA and Mossad by&nbsp;Esmaili in a televised news conference.

Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, an Iranian national, who was accused of spying on the US and Israeli intelligence has been executed on Monday, according to local news agencies.

Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, an Iranian national, who was accused of spying on the US and Israeli intelligence has been executed on Monday, according to local news agencies. The spy was arrested in 2018 after he was accused of spying on former Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani. The execution of the alleged spy took place at a time when the Iranian locals have been verbally and physically protesting against the death sentences given to three nationals who have been accused of participating and leading the 'anti-government' protests in November 2019. The executions were suspended after a hashtag, loosely translated to "Don’t execute" in English, started widely trending on Twitter. The judiciary had made it clear that the death sentence was not for involvement in killing of the leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, Soleimani, who was accused of being the mastermind of the attacks by Iran-aligned militias on US forces in the region and was later assassinated in January 2020 in a US drone strike. Mahmoud was alleged of supplying information about Soleimani's whereabouts to the US, according judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili. Officials have not cleared the air around whether Mahmoud was one of the 17 CIA spies captured last year by Iran. However, Mahmoud was revealed to be a spy of the CIA and Mossad by Esmaili in a televised news conference.

Iranian spy, accused of spying on US and Israel, executed

Journalists, political leaders, policy makers and researchers have been revealed as members of a larger Chinese spy ring. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how China espionage activities abroad are growing.

Gravitas: China's spy racket: Bigger than the cold war

Indian police, on Friday,&nbsp;released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after the officials made sure that the bird, that flew&nbsp;across the contentious border between the nuclear-armed nations, was not a spy.

“The pigeon was set free yesterday (May 28) after nothing suspicious was found,” said Shailendra Mishra, a senior police official in Indian-administered Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/arrest-warrant-issued-against-nawaz-sharif-in-national-depository-case-301767">Also read:&nbsp;Arrest warrant issued against Nawaz Sharif in national depository case</a>

Suspicions were raised by villagers after the bird flew in Indian territory. The villagers handed over the bird to Indian Police. Some&nbsp;numbers were inscribed on a ring on the pigeon’s leg, which the Indian Police, before investigation, suspected&nbsp;were codes meant for militant groups operating in the disputed region of Kashmir.

However, Habibullah, the owner of the pigeon, dismissed the assumption and claimed that the pigeon is "just an innocent bird."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/locust-attacks-in-pakistan-raise-fear-of-massive-food-shortages-301735">Also read:&nbsp;Locust attacks in Pakistan raise fear of massive food shortages</a>

He claimed that the number on the ring was his phone number from the time when his bird had participated in a pigeon racing contest.

“We had to take the bird into our custody to probe if it was being using for spying,” a senior Indian border security officer said requesting anonymity, while explaining this was part of the drill given border sensitivities.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Indian police, on Friday, released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after the officials made sure that the bird, that flew across the contentious border between the nuclear-armed nations, was not a spy.

Indian police, on Friday, released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after the officials made sure that the bird, that flew across the contentious border between the nuclear-armed nations, was not a spy. “The pigeon was set free yesterday (May 28) after nothing suspicious was found,” said Shailendra Mishra, a senior police official in Indian-administered Kashmir. Also read: Arrest warrant issued against Nawaz Sharif in national depository case Suspicions were raised by villagers after the bird flew in Indian territory. The villagers handed over the bird to Indian Police. Some numbers were inscribed on a ring on the pigeon’s leg, which the Indian Police, before investigation, suspected were codes meant for militant groups operating in the disputed region of Kashmir. However, Habibullah, the owner of the pigeon, dismissed the assumption and claimed that the pigeon is "just an innocent bird." Also read: Locust attacks in Pakistan raise fear of massive food shortages He claimed that the number on the ring was his phone number from the time when his bird had participated in a pigeon racing contest. “We had to take the bird into our custody to probe if it was being using for spying,” a senior Indian border security officer said requesting anonymity, while explaining this was part of the drill given border sensitivities. (With inputs from Reuters)

Just an innocent bird - India returns Pakistan's suspected spy bird

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-new-su-57-jet-crashing-during-test-269983">Russian</a> court on Tuesday extended until late March the pre-trial detention of a US man already held in jail for a year despite Western requests for his release.

Paul Whelan, who also has Irish, Canadian and British citizenship, was arrested on December 28 last year for allegedly receiving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-china-spy-concerns-australia-launches-anti-espionage-task-force-265625">state secrets</a>.

On Christmas eve the Moscow City Court extended his detention by another three months, to March 29, a court spokesman told AFP.

He risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Whelan, 49, has denounced the case against him and said he is being held "hostage" for a possible prisoner exchange.

On Monday, US charge d'affaires Bart Gorman and diplomats from Canada, Ireland, and Britain visited Whelan in Moscow's high-security Lefortovo prison, bringing him food and Christmas greetings from family and supporters.&nbsp;

"It's two days before Christmas. A holiday Paul Whelan will spend alone in Lefortovo," the US embassy quoted Gorman as saying.

"In the past 12 months, Paul has not heard his parents' voices. Bring Paul some Christmas cheer and let him call home."

Whelan, a former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-space-force-donald-trump-creates-new-warfare-service-branch-of-pentagon-269433">US</a> marine, maintains he has been framed and that he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos.

His lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov has said the acquaintance that handed over the drive is the only witness against Whelan while the rest of his longtime acquaintances in Russia gave witness statements in his defence.

During a previous court hearing in October, Whelan insisted that he was not a spy.

"Russia thought they caught James Bond on a spy mission, in reality, they abducted Mr Bean on holiday," he has said.

Whelan and his supporters claim that the American has been mistreated in jail.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-releases-japan-fishing-boats-held-near-disputed-islands-269911">Moscow</a> has rubbished the claims, saying foreign diplomats have regular access to Whelan and calling the complaints a "provocative line of defence".&nbsp;

"Whelan's complaints concerning the conditions of detention and actions of investigators have never once been confirmed," the Russian foreign ministry has said.

A Russian court on Tuesday extended until late March the pre-trial detention of a US man already held in jail for a year despite Western requests for his release.

A Russian court on Tuesday extended until late March the pre-trial detention of a US man already held in jail for a year despite Western requests for his release. Paul Whelan, who also has Irish, Canadian and British citizenship, was arrested on December 28 last year for allegedly receiving state secrets. On Christmas eve the Moscow City Court extended his detention by another three months, to March 29, a court spokesman told AFP. He risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Whelan, 49, has denounced the case against him and said he is being held "hostage" for a possible prisoner exchange. On Monday, US charge d'affaires Bart Gorman and diplomats from Canada, Ireland, and Britain visited Whelan in Moscow's high-security Lefortovo prison, bringing him food and Christmas greetings from family and supporters. "It's two days before Christmas. A holiday Paul Whelan will spend alone in Lefortovo," the US embassy quoted Gorman as saying. "In the past 12 months, Paul has not heard his parents' voices. Bring Paul some Christmas cheer and let him call home." Whelan, a former US marine, maintains he has been framed and that he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos. His lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov has said the acquaintance that handed over the drive is the only witness against Whelan while the rest of his longtime acquaintances in Russia gave witness statements in his defence. During a previous court hearing in October, Whelan insisted that he was not a spy. "Russia thought they caught James Bond on a spy mission, in reality, they abducted Mr Bean on holiday," he has said. Whelan and his supporters claim that the American has been mistreated in jail. Moscow has rubbished the claims, saying foreign diplomats have regular access to Whelan and calling the complaints a "provocative line of defence". "Whelan's complaints concerning the conditions of detention and actions of investigators have never once been confirmed," the Russian foreign ministry has said.

Detention of US man in Russian spy case extended up to March

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chinas-failed-quest-for-soft-power-268344">China</a>&nbsp;has lodged stern representations with the United States over the expelling of Chinese officials, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday.

The U.S&nbsp;government covertly moved to expel two officials from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-embassy-in-washington-visa-restrictions-for-some-chinese-officials-254624">Chinese embassy</a> earlier this year after they drove onto a military base, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

One of the two Chinese officials is believed to be an intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover, the report said.

"The US accusations against Chinese personnel severely disregard reality," said Geng.

The Chinese officials breached security at a base in Virginia this fall, and only stopped driving after fire trucks were used to block their path, the Times said.

The United States in recent years has stepped up efforts to combat concerns about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fewer-russian-spies-in-us-but-getting-harder-to-track-126722">suspected spying</a>&nbsp;by the Chinese.

A law enforcement official familiar with the episode confirmed to Reuters that the account in the Times is accurate.

"We strongly urge the US&nbsp;to correct its mistake, cancel the relevant decision and protect Chinese personnel's proper rights according to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ignored-diplomatic-immunity-in-detaining-canadian-justin-trudeau-189725">Vienna Convention</a> on Diplomatic Relations," said Geng, referring to an international treaty on diplomatic privileges.

China has lodged stern representations with the United States over the expelling of Chinese officials, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday.

China has lodged stern representations with the United States over the expelling of Chinese officials, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday. The U.S government covertly moved to expel two officials from the Chinese embassy earlier this year after they drove onto a military base, the New York Times reported on Sunday. One of the two Chinese officials is believed to be an intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover, the report said. "The US accusations against Chinese personnel severely disregard reality," said Geng. The Chinese officials breached security at a base in Virginia this fall, and only stopped driving after fire trucks were used to block their path, the Times said. The United States in recent years has stepped up efforts to combat concerns about suspected spying by the Chinese. A law enforcement official familiar with the episode confirmed to Reuters that the account in the Times is accurate. "We strongly urge the US to correct its mistake, cancel the relevant decision and protect Chinese personnel's proper rights according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," said Geng, referring to an international treaty on diplomatic privileges.

China lodges stern representations with US over expelling of Chinese Embassy officials

Australian police will open a formal investigation into explosive claims by a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-wants-to-take-over-australian-politics-ex-spy-chief-263762">self-styled Chinese spy</a> who defected Down Under with an apparent trove of sensitive intelligence, an official told AFP Tuesday.

The Australian Federal Police will probe Wang Liqiang's claims,&nbsp;including allegations that China tried to recruit a Melbourne businessman and get him elected to parliament.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to comment further but confirmed a statement about the investigation is expected later on Tuesday.

The target, Bo "Nick" Zhao, a 32-year-old luxury car dealer who was a member of the ruling Liberal Party,&nbsp;apparently rebuffed the offer and was found dead in a motel room in March.

Wang has told Australian media he knows the identities of China's senior military intelligence officers in Hong Kong and took part in covert influence operations there, as well as in Taiwan and Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the allegations as "deeply disturbing and troubling".

The country's main spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said it was aware of Wang's claims and was actively investigating them.

Wang is reportedly living in Sydney with his wife and infant son on a tourist visa.

China has accused him of being an unemployed fraudster and fugitive.

Australian police will open a formal investigation into explosive claims by a self-styled Chinese spy who defected Down Under with an apparent trove of sensitive intelligence, an official told AFP Tuesday.

Australian police will open a formal investigation into explosive claims by a self-styled Chinese spy who defected Down Under with an apparent trove of sensitive intelligence, an official told AFP Tuesday. The Australian Federal Police will probe Wang Liqiang's claims, including allegations that China tried to recruit a Melbourne businessman and get him elected to parliament. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to comment further but confirmed a statement about the investigation is expected later on Tuesday. The target, Bo "Nick" Zhao, a 32-year-old luxury car dealer who was a member of the ruling Liberal Party, apparently rebuffed the offer and was found dead in a motel room in March. Wang has told Australian media he knows the identities of China's senior military intelligence officers in Hong Kong and took part in covert influence operations there, as well as in Taiwan and Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the allegations as "deeply disturbing and troubling". The country's main spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said it was aware of Wang's claims and was actively investigating them. Wang is reportedly living in Sydney with his wife and infant son on a tourist visa. China has accused him of being an unemployed fraudster and fugitive.

Australian police to probe 'Chinese spy' claims

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pak-china-cpec-project-will-hamstringing-pm-imran-khans-reform-agenda-us-263755">China</a> is seeking to "take over" Australia's political system with an "insidious" and systematic campaign of espionage and influence-peddling, Canberra's ex-spymaster said in an interview published Friday.

Duncan Lewis, who resigned in September after five years at the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said China could target anyone in political office, with the impact potentially not known for years to come.

"Espionage and foreign interference are insidious. Its effects might not present for decades and by that time it's too late," Lewis was quoted as telling the&nbsp;Sydney&nbsp;Morning Herald in his first interview since leaving the office.&nbsp;

"You wake up one day and find decisions made in our country that are not in the interests of our country," he said.

"Not only in politics but also in the community or in business. It takes over, basically, pulling the strings from offshore," he added in the interview with the newspaper's foreign editor.

Lewis singled out incidents of Chinese agents making large contributions to Australian political parties as part of a wide-ranging influence-peddling campaign that also targeted media and the country's universities.

"It's quite clear to me that any person in political office is potentially a target. I'm not trying to create paranoia, but there does need to be a level of sensible awareness," he said.

The former spy chief said the help of Australia's large ethnic Chinese community was "vital in the work against foreign covert influence" much like Muslim-Australians who have aided in the fight against terrorism.

While running ASIO, Lewis, who also held senior military positions and served as Australia's ambassador to Belgium and NATO, frequently warned of the dangers of foreign espionage, but avoided singling out China for criticism.

His latest remarks are sure to rile Beijing, which has angrily denied allegations its ruling Communist Party was covertly meddling in Australian affairs.

Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/many-lgbtq-people-in-china-forced-into-illegal-conversion-therapy-groups-263636">China barred</a> a planned visit by two MPs from the governing Liberal party over their criticism of Chinese activities in Australia and across the Pacific.

And a group of Australian universities last week announced measures to combat foreign interference in key areas of research collaboration, cybersecurity, and international partnerships,&nbsp;a move seen as targeting China.

China is also widely suspected of being behind major intrusions into the computer systems of Australia's parliament and a university with close ties to the government and security services.

China is seeking to "take over" Australia's political system with an "insidious" and systematic campaign of espionage and influence-peddling, Canberra's ex-spymaster said in an interview published Friday.

China is seeking to "take over" Australia's political system with an "insidious" and systematic campaign of espionage and influence-peddling, Canberra's ex-spymaster said in an interview published Friday. Duncan Lewis, who resigned in September after five years at the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said China could target anyone in political office, with the impact potentially not known for years to come. "Espionage and foreign interference are insidious. Its effects might not present for decades and by that time it's too late," Lewis was quoted as telling the Sydney Morning Herald in his first interview since leaving the office. "You wake up one day and find decisions made in our country that are not in the interests of our country," he said. "Not only in politics but also in the community or in business. It takes over, basically, pulling the strings from offshore," he added in the interview with the newspaper's foreign editor. Lewis singled out incidents of Chinese agents making large contributions to Australian political parties as part of a wide-ranging influence-peddling campaign that also targeted media and the country's universities. "It's quite clear to me that any person in political office is potentially a target. I'm not trying to create paranoia, but there does need to be a level of sensible awareness," he said. The former spy chief said the help of Australia's large ethnic Chinese community was "vital in the work against foreign covert influence" much like Muslim-Australians who have aided in the fight against terrorism. While running ASIO, Lewis, who also held senior military positions and served as Australia's ambassador to Belgium and NATO, frequently warned of the dangers of foreign espionage, but avoided singling out China for criticism. His latest remarks are sure to rile Beijing, which has angrily denied allegations its ruling Communist Party was covertly meddling in Australian affairs. Earlier this month, China barred a planned visit by two MPs from the governing Liberal party over their criticism of Chinese activities in Australia and across the Pacific. And a group of Australian universities last week announced measures to combat foreign interference in key areas of research collaboration, cybersecurity, and international partnerships, a move seen as targeting China. China is also widely suspected of being behind major intrusions into the computer systems of Australia's parliament and a university with close ties to the government and security services.

China wants to 'take over' Australian politics: ex-spy chief

The allegations of spying by former Twitter employees for Saudi Arabia underscore the risks for Silicon Valley firms holding sensitive data which make the platforms ripe for espionage.

The two Saudis and one US citizen allegedly worked together to unmask the ownership details behind dissident Twitter accounts on behalf of the Riyadh government and royal family, according to a federal indictment.

Analysts say the incident shows how massive databases held by Silicon Valley giants can be juicy targets for intelligence agencies, which can often apply pressure to company insiders.

"The Twitter case shows how data is not only an asset but a liability for companies," said Adrian Shahbaz, research director for technology and democracy at the human rights group Freedom House.

"For companies collecting massive amounts of data, the challenge is how to keep it secure not only from hackers, but from rogue employees."

Shahbaz said platforms such as Twitter and Facebook remain important tools for human rights activists, but that users should be aware of potential for data leaks, both in their countries, and from insiders.

"It's been alarming to see how governments using tactics to exploit the inherent weaknesses of the internet... go after people expressing dissent," he said.

"It's a constant cat-and-mouse game between users and very well-resourced governments."

Bruce Schneier, a security researcher and fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet &amp; Society, said it is not surprising to see governments targeting databases of tech platforms.

"We all assume it happens a lot. But this (prosecution) rarely comes up," Schneier said.

No match for Russia

Schneier said there have long been fears about Chinese or Russian insiders pressured to introduce vulnerabilities in major software platforms, and that companies may be ill-equipped to thwart those efforts.

"The government of Russia versus Twitter is not a fair fight," he said. "It's hard to blame tech companies."

Because major tech firms have engineers from all over the world, Schneier said it enables intelligence services to seek out and pressure their ex-pats for espionage purposes.

The case highlights the potential for insider threats, said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"Insider threats go back to biblical times," he said, noting that the suspects were probably caught because they "did a terrible job of covering their tracks."

Background checks enough?

According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, US citizen Ahmad Abouammo and Saudi national Ali Alzabarah were recruited in 2014-2015 to use their positions in Twitter to gain access to private information related to accounts of critics of Riyadh.

Ahmed Almutairi, a marketing official with ties to the royal family, was a critical go-between who arranged contacts, prosecutors said.

Twitter said in a statement it restricts access to sensitive account information "to a limited group of trained and vetted employees."

But John Dickson, a former US air force information warfare officer who is now with the security consultancy Denim Group, said private companies, even in Silicon Valley, are not equipped to for background checks needed to find potential spies.

"Most employers do cursory background checks for the most obvious stuff such as criminal records or bankruptcy," he said.

"None of them does any semblance of a background check on nation-state threats."

Dickson said it remains unclear if the tech platforms are cognizant of the sensitivity of the data they hold, and the draw of that information for intelligence services.

"They are still acting as social media companies," he said.

"Their default is to get as many connections as possible, and the network effect enhances the platform."

Shahbaz said the latest case illustrates a need for regulations to require tech platforms to limit how much data they collect and maintain.

"There might be a role for government to play in terms of data privacy legislation," he said.

"There's a case for collecting the bare minimum of data from users and allowing users to opt out" of certain kinds of data collection.

He said companies should also be required to inform victims if their data has been compromised "so they can take measures to protect themselves."

The allegations of spying by former Twitter employees for Saudi Arabia underscore the risks for Silicon Valley firms holding sensitive data which make the platforms ripe for espionage.

The allegations of spying by former Twitter employees for Saudi Arabia underscore the risks for Silicon Valley firms holding sensitive data which make the platforms ripe for espionage. The two Saudis and one US citizen allegedly worked together to unmask the ownership details behind dissident Twitter accounts on behalf of the Riyadh government and royal family, according to a federal indictment. Analysts say the incident shows how massive databases held by Silicon Valley giants can be juicy targets for intelligence agencies, which can often apply pressure to company insiders. "The Twitter case shows how data is not only an asset but a liability for companies," said Adrian Shahbaz, research director for technology and democracy at the human rights group Freedom House. "For companies collecting massive amounts of data, the challenge is how to keep it secure not only from hackers, but from rogue employees." Shahbaz said platforms such as Twitter and Facebook remain important tools for human rights activists, but that users should be aware of potential for data leaks, both in their countries, and from insiders. "It's been alarming to see how governments using tactics to exploit the inherent weaknesses of the internet... go after people expressing dissent," he said. "It's a constant cat-and-mouse game between users and very well-resourced governments." Bruce Schneier, a security researcher and fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, said it is not surprising to see governments targeting databases of tech platforms. "We all assume it happens a lot. But this (prosecution) rarely comes up," Schneier said. No match for Russia Schneier said there have long been fears about Chinese or Russian insiders pressured to introduce vulnerabilities in major software platforms, and that companies may be ill-equipped to thwart those efforts. "The government of Russia versus Twitter is not a fair fight," he said. "It's hard to blame tech companies." Because major tech firms have engineers from all over the world, Schneier said it enables intelligence services to seek out and pressure their ex-pats for espionage purposes. The case highlights the potential for insider threats, said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "Insider threats go back to biblical times," he said, noting that the suspects were probably caught because they "did a terrible job of covering their tracks." Background checks enough? According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, US citizen Ahmad Abouammo and Saudi national Ali Alzabarah were recruited in 2014-2015 to use their positions in Twitter to gain access to private information related to accounts of critics of Riyadh. Ahmed Almutairi, a marketing official with ties to the royal family, was a critical go-between who arranged contacts, prosecutors said. Twitter said in a statement it restricts access to sensitive account information "to a limited group of trained and vetted employees." But John Dickson, a former US air force information warfare officer who is now with the security consultancy Denim Group, said private companies, even in Silicon Valley, are not equipped to for background checks needed to find potential spies. "Most employers do cursory background checks for the most obvious stuff such as criminal records or bankruptcy," he said. "None of them does any semblance of a background check on nation-state threats." Dickson said it remains unclear if the tech platforms are cognizant of the sensitivity of the data they hold, and the draw of that information for intelligence services. "They are still acting as social media companies," he said. "Their default is to get as many connections as possible, and the network effect enhances the platform." Shahbaz said the latest case illustrates a need for regulations to require tech platforms to limit how much data they collect and maintain. "There might be a role for government to play in terms of data privacy legislation," he said. "There's a case for collecting the bare minimum of data from users and allowing users to opt out" of certain kinds of data collection. He said companies should also be required to inform victims if their data has been compromised "so they can take measures to protect themselves."

Twitter spy case highlights risks for big tech platforms

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nso-snoop-row-how-pegasus-broke-into-whatsapp-260055">Spyware Pegasus and Israeli firm NSO</a> are making headlines. Facebook has taken NSO to court for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whatsapp-sues-israels-nso-for-alleged-cyber-espionage-targeting-civil-society-worldwide-258713">hacking into the phones of thousands</a> of people across the globe through WhatsApp. As the row continues to simmer, WION gets the exclusive details.

WION's West Asia bureau chief Daniele Pagani tracked down the NSO headquarters which had moved out of its original building to an undisclosed building complex.

As part of our investigation, WION has also accessed the full 140-page report filed by WhatsApp in the US court. The report gives details about NSO's dealings with governments across the world. What kind of services does NSO offer? What can its super-weapon "the Pegasus" really do?

WION also has access to the agreement that the NSO had signed with a company in Ghana. It has a list of all that these hackers can do. The contract was to monitor 25 phones.

And this isn't just about hacking WhatsApp. The NSO contract says it can monitor virtually any popular smartphone app. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-edit-how-safe-is-your-smartphone-260195/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Exposed!

In today's world, our lives revolve around our smartphones. It has all our details - from our pictures to access to our bank account. Israel's NSO group has built the most powerful spying tool of this century called Pegasus.

For the first time, WhatsApp's lawsuit has revealed the extent to which Pegasus can spy a person.

As part of WhatsApp's court filings, a secret agreement between the NSO and a company in Ghana is now public. The agreement was signed in the year 2015 between the NSO group and Infraloks development limited.

Reports claim Infraloks was a front for the government of Ghana. The deal was worth $8 million and required the monitoring of 25 phones.

NSO's spying tools

The NSO group had offered an entire suite of services. Its tools can hack all major smartphone softwares from iOS, Android or Blackberry. It can read and record virtually anything on a smartphone. It can even extract contact details, messages, emails and the entire call log along with communication done over WhatsApp, Skype or on any of the instant messaging applications.

Tools from the NSO can even record calls and use the phone's camera to capture you. The software even knows how to switch off the phone's flash.

What comes as a shock is that the NSO built exclusion clauses for the citizens of America and Israel.

The NSO group has its headquarters in Israel. It used an American company called Westbridge Technologies Inc. to drum up business in the United States.

And this was just one business. Citizen Lab - part of the University of Toronto in Canada - says there are 36 likely operators of Pegasus across at least 45 countries.

The NSO has refused to reveal the full list of governments it deals with and maintains that it only sells its software to governments. There exists no regulation or legal oversight over this new age surveillance.

The Amnesty International has filed a lawsuit to get the NSO's licence revoked. WION had spoken to Gil Naveh, communications unit head at the Amnesty International who had talked about the specifics of the case and the foundation of the lawsuit.

Spyware Pegasus and Israeli firm NSO are making headlines. Facebook has taken NSO to court for hacking into the phones of thousands of people across the globe through WhatsApp.

Spyware Pegasus and Israeli firm NSO are making headlines. Facebook has taken NSO to court for hacking into the phones of thousands of people across the globe through WhatsApp. As the row continues to simmer, WION gets the exclusive details. WION's West Asia bureau chief Daniele Pagani tracked down the NSO headquarters which had moved out of its original building to an undisclosed building complex. As part of our investigation, WION has also accessed the full 140-page report filed by WhatsApp in the US court. The report gives details about NSO's dealings with governments across the world. What kind of services does NSO offer? What can its super-weapon "the Pegasus" really do? WION also has access to the agreement that the NSO had signed with a company in Ghana. It has a list of all that these hackers can do. The contract was to monitor 25 phones. And this isn't just about hacking WhatsApp. The NSO contract says it can monitor virtually any popular smartphone app. × Exposed! In today's world, our lives revolve around our smartphones. It has all our details - from our pictures to access to our bank account. Israel's NSO group has built the most powerful spying tool of this century called Pegasus. For the first time, WhatsApp's lawsuit has revealed the extent to which Pegasus can spy a person. As part of WhatsApp's court filings, a secret agreement between the NSO and a company in Ghana is now public. The agreement was signed in the year 2015 between the NSO group and Infraloks development limited. Reports claim Infraloks was a front for the government of Ghana. The deal was worth $8 million and required the monitoring of 25 phones. NSO's spying tools The NSO group had offered an entire suite of services. Its tools can hack all major smartphone softwares from iOS, Android or Blackberry. It can read and record virtually anything on a smartphone. It can even extract contact details, messages, emails and the entire call log along with communication done over WhatsApp, Skype or on any of the instant messaging applications. Tools from the NSO can even record calls and use the phone's camera to capture you. The software even knows how to switch off the phone's flash. What comes as a shock is that the NSO built exclusion clauses for the citizens of America and Israel. The NSO group has its headquarters in Israel. It used an American company called Westbridge Technologies Inc. to drum up business in the United States. And this was just one business. Citizen Lab - part of the University of Toronto in Canada - says there are 36 likely operators of Pegasus across at least 45 countries. The NSO has refused to reveal the full list of governments it deals with and maintains that it only sells its software to governments. There exists no regulation or legal oversight over this new age surveillance. The Amnesty International has filed a lawsuit to get the NSO's licence revoked. WION had spoken to Gil Naveh, communications unit head at the Amnesty International who had talked about the specifics of the case and the foundation of the lawsuit.

WION investigates: Unearthing the NSO controversy

Iran said on Friday it had formally lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council against the United States over a drone violating its airspace, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iran "filed a complaint to the UN Security Council and the organisation's Secretary General after a US spy drone violated Iran's airspace and was shot down," Tasnim quoted deputy foreign minister Gholamhossein Dehghani as saying.

"The complaint states that Iran reserves the right to defend its airspace and confront any violation," he added.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have spiked ever since US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Hostilities grew last week when Iran shot down a US drone over sensitive Gulf waters following a series of tanker attacks that Washington blamed Tehran for despite its denials.

Since then the arch-foes have been locked in a war of words, which escalated this week when Trump announced new sanctions against Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Iran has threatened to abandon some of its commitments under the nuclear deal unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially sell its oil.

Iran said on Friday it had formally lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council against the United States over a drone violating its airspace, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iran said on Friday it had formally lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council against the United States over a drone violating its airspace, Tasnim news agency reported. Iran "filed a complaint to the UN Security Council and the organisation's Secretary General after a US spy drone violated Iran's airspace and was shot down," Tasnim quoted deputy foreign minister Gholamhossein Dehghani as saying. "The complaint states that Iran reserves the right to defend its airspace and confront any violation," he added. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have spiked ever since US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic republic. Hostilities grew last week when Iran shot down a US drone over sensitive Gulf waters following a series of tanker attacks that Washington blamed Tehran for despite its denials. Since then the arch-foes have been locked in a war of words, which escalated this week when Trump announced new sanctions against Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Iran has threatened to abandon some of its commitments under the nuclear deal unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially sell its oil.

Iran files complaint to UN over US spy drone

Spy, News on Spy, stories on Spy, articles on Spy, Spy stories at Wion, Spy news, Spy latest news