espionage news stories on Newser

Turks Suspect Bird Is Israeli Spy

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:03:50 CDT

A tiny bird triggered a peck of trouble in a Turkish village when residents became convinced the creature was an Israeli spy. The dead European bee-eater was discovered wearing a metal band stamped with the word "Israel." Investigating villagers determined that the cheeper's nostrils were larger than average, possibly large...

Pentagon Gets Its Own Global Spy Agency

Kevin Spak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:51:35 CDT

The Pentagon has created a new spy agency that will expand its intelligence gathering operations outside of current war zones. The new Defense Clandestine Service will work closely with the CIA, investigating targets unrelated to its current battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials tell the Washington Post ; the paper speculates...

China Tried to Steal Secret of Titanium Dioxide: Feds

Rob Quinn — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:36:05 CST

Spies aren't just after government secrets these days: An indictment unsealed last month spotlights US efforts to crack down on corporate spying. The government has filed criminal espionage charges against a China-owned firm, saying Pangang Group was after DuPont chemical secrets—specifically, its efficient method for producing the white pigment...

UK: Yeah, We Used Lame Fake Rock in Spying

John Johnson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:46:33 CST

Oh, the shame from the land of James Bond: A former British official admits that the nation used a fake plastic rock stuffed with hidden equipment to try to spy on Russia. Moscow actually exposed the ruse in a 2006 documentary—complete with footage of agents kicking the rock in...

Secret Cold War Project Revealed After 45 Years

Dustin Lushing — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:00:05 CST

An ultra-secret clan of scientists and engineers who toiled in a gigantic enclave in Danbury, Conn., can finally reveal its covert activities. Declassified in September, project Hexagon launched the most successful spy satellite network of the Cold War and collected crucial data for decades that helped undermine the Soviet Union,...

US Army Busts Soldier, Will Face Spying Charges

Kevin Spak — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:12:07 CDT

US Army Spc. William Colton Millay has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, the military announced yesterday. Millay, 22, was stationed in Alaska as part of the rear detachment of the 164th Military Police Company, or as they’re better known, the “Arctic Enforcers,” Reuters reports. He was arrested this weekend...

FBI Releases Russian Spy Videos

Rob Quinn — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:16:00 CDT

The FBI has released videos, photos, and documents from its decade-long investigation into a Russian spy ring . In one video, Anna Chapman can be seen talking to an undercover FBI agent, ABC reports. Other videos show sleeper agents exchanging cash in a "brush pass" in a New York City train...

Iran Puts University of Texas Student on Trial

Kevin Spak — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:40:53 CDT

Iran began the trial of 29-year-old Omid Kokabee this week, an Iranian who had, until his arrest, been studying physics at the University of Texas, Austin. Kokabee returned to Iran to visit his parents in February, only to be arrested and charged with espionage, NPR reports, but his case is...

US Scientist Confesses to Attempted Espionage

Mark Russell — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:16:58 CDT

Nearly two years after getting busted for trying to sell US technology secrets to Israel , a top American scientist has confessed to attempted espionage, reports the BBC . Stewart Nozette, who had high security clearances for years with NASA, the National Space Council, and the Department of Energy, will likely serve...