Supporters say Paul Whelan is more hapless tourist than James Bond — and that the Russians know it. But that doesn’t make freeing him any easier.
Tag: Espionage and Intelligence Services
In Libya, Mystery Shrouds Handover of Lockerbie Suspect to US
Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud, a former intelligence officer accused of delivering the bomb that destroyed a passenger jet mid flight in 1988, was abducted from his home, according to relatives.
In a Wary Arctic, Norway Starts to See Russian Spies Everywhere
Other European countries are, too, blurring the line between vigilance and paranoia.
Who Is Viktor Bout, Arms Dealer in Swap for Brittney Griner?
Viktor Bout has been accused of supplying arms to Al Qaeda, the Taliban and rebels in Rwanda. His exploits helped inspire a 2005 film, “Lord of War,” that starred Nicolas Cage.
How the Global Spyware Industry Spiraled Out of Control
The market for commercial spyware — which allows governments to invade mobile phones and vacuum up data — is booming. Even the U.S. government is using it.
How a German State Helped Russia Complete Nord Stream 2
The threat of U.S. sanctions jeopardized completion of a second direct gas pipeline from Russia. So Gazprom and German officials concocted a phony climate foundation to get the job done.
UK Sees Varied Domestic Threats, Mainly From Iran, Russia and China
In an annual assessment, the head of MI5 also cited Iranian attempts to kill or kidnap at least 10 critics of Iran’s government.
Internal Documents Show How Close the F.B.I. Came to Deploying Spyware
Christopher Wray, the F.B.I.’s director, told Congress last December that the bureau purchased the phone hacking tool Pegasus for research and development purposes.
Greece to Ban Sale of Spyware After Government Is Accused of Surveillance
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the ban after a news report claimed that he had directed the use of spyware against prominent politicians and journalists, which he denied.
Did Germany Learn From Its Russia Trouble? The Test May Come in China.
On the eve of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s first trip to Beijing, concerns are growing that economic dependence on China is leaving his country vulnerable — again.