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July 05, 2026
 

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ESPIONAGE

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi departs from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Wednesday ahead of her summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 19, 2026
Japan rejects U.S. report calling PM’s remarks over Taiwan ‘a significant shift’
The U.S. spy community’s assessment of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Japan’s military intervention in a crisis over the island was at odds with Tokyo’s view.
Researchers have uncovered spyware that is capable of penetrating millions of iPhones.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 19, 2026
Researchers find iPhone spyware that could compromise millions of devices
The second discovery this month of hacking tools targeting iPhones and other Apple devices shows the market for sophisticated malware is flourishing.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a Lower House budget committee session last week
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 15, 2026
Tough debate ahead for Japan national intelligence council bill
The government believes that the current security environment is the most severe and complex since the end of World War II.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Mar 13, 2026
Cabinet approves bill to upgrade intelligence and research office
The bill, to be submitted in the ongoing session of parliament, is aimed at strengthening Japan’s intelligence-gathering and analysis capabilities.
The Houses of Parliament in London. The husband of a lawmaker from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ruling Labour party is one of three men to have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
WORLD
Mar 5, 2026
British lawmaker’s husband among three accused of spying for China
The case could potentially become awkward for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer who visited Beijing recently as part of his resetting of relations with China.
On its plan for a new national intelligence committee, the government plans to submit related legislation to parliament with the aim of establishing the new body in the summer.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2026
Government outlines new national intelligence committee
To be chaired by the prime minister, the new committee will be responsible for countering espionage activities by foreign agents.
An Liberal Democratic Party panel calls for a review of existing measures to deter and detect foreign intelligence activities and states that new legislation should be considered if current safeguards are found to be insufficient.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 26, 2026
LDP panel approves proposal to strengthen intelligence capabilities
Both the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, have said that Japan’s current capabilities are inadequate.
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is recruiting Iranians on social media as the U.S. builds up its military presence in the Middle East.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 26, 2026
CIA launches fresh social media push to recruit Iranians as Trump threatens military action
The CIA recruitment effort comes amid a massive buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East.
Ghost Robotics Vision 60 takes part in an annual New Year's military drill by the Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Airborne Brigade at Narashino exercise field in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, on Jan. 11.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 22, 2026
With fresh mandate, Japan’s Takaichi sets sights on divisive security goals
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s election victory has empowered her to push forward with security and defense goals that, just a decade ago, would have been all but unattainable.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a Cabinet meeting on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 22, 2026
LDP considers mandatory reporting by foreign agents in Japan
As part of counterintelligence efforts, more countries are banning visitors to important government facilities from carrying mobile phones or entering with electric vehicles.
An honor guard from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army shouts during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in November 2025.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 13, 2026
CIA makes new push to recruit Chinese military officers as informants
The spy agency rolled out ‌a video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer, part of a U.S. campaign to ramp up human intelligence gathering on Beijing.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a news conference on Thursday.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2026
Japan eyes development of national intelligence strategy
If compiled, it would be the first Japanese national strategy dedicated to intelligence.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington last July.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 11, 2026
Trump’s spy chief Gabbard winds down intelligence task force
The task force, which was tasked with rooting out politicization from intelligence agencies, has been accused of being a tool for partisan attacks by the Trump administration.
Attendees watch a presentation at the Palo Alto Networks booth during the RSA Conference in San Francisco, California, in 2023.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 6, 2026
Hackers hit sensitive targets in 37 nations in vast spying plot
An Asian cyberespionage group has spent the past year breaking into computer systems belonging to governments and critical infrastructure organizations.
Tensions between Beijing and Western powers over espionage have risen ​in recent years ‌as Western intelligence agencies increasingly sound the alarm on ‌alleged Chinese state-backed hacking activity.
WORLD
Feb 5, 2026
Four people, including two Chinese nationals, arrested in France on suspicion of spying
This followed the ‍discovery that two Chinese nationals had entered French territory with the aim of capturing data from entities of vital importance, particularly the military.
Russia’s trade representation in Japan in Tokyo’s Minato Ward
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 21, 2026
Ex-Russian official referred to prosecutors in Japan
Tokyo police sent papers on the former Russian official and a former worker at a machine tool manufacturer over trade secrets held by the company.
The former Royal Mint Court office complex in London, the future site of a new Chinese embassy, on Tuesday
WORLD / Politics
Jan 21, 2026
U.K.’s China embassy gamble shows changing calculations in divided West
British and U.S. politicians, local ​residents and British-based Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners say the new building could be used as a base for espionage.
Protesters demonstrate near the proposed site of a new Chinese "mega embassy" at Royal Mint Court, in London, on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 18, 2026
Hundreds in London protest against Beijing ‘mega embassy’
China has for several years been trying to relocate its embassy, a move that has sparked fierce opposition from nearby residents and raised concerns about espionage activities.
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Padilla attend a ceremony honoring Venezuelan and Cuban military and security personnel who died during a U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on Thursday.
WORLD
Jan 10, 2026
How Cuba was blindsided by the operation to capture Maduro
Experts say Cuban intelligence, assigned to protect President Nicolas Maduro, misjudged the U.S.’ willingness to take action in Venezuela.
In a parliamentary debate with party leaders on Nov. 26, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to swiftly draw up legislation related to preventing information theft by foreign entities.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 31, 2025
Japan begins studying law to prevent foreign entities from stealing information
The focus will be how to balance the development of a counterintelligence system in light of the severe security environment surrounding Japan and protecting constitutional rights.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
A man orders from a kebab shop in the Okubo district in Tokyo.
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Japanese police arrest nine over Sierra Leone-based special fraud
Japanese police have arrested nine individuals for their alleged involvement in a special fraud case using Sierra Leone as a base.
Japanese-language education is at a turning point
The country is gradually transforming Japanese-language education from a volunteer-driven system into a professional, government-supported network to better serve its growing foreign population. 
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
X Games returns to Chiba with new team format
Skateboarder Sora Shirai practices at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Friday afternoon. X Games Chiba begins on Saturday.
NU Festival tests Takanawa Gateway City complex’s culture cred
Veteran improvisers Kazuo Imai and Atsuhiro Ito brought some unruly energy to NU Festival, a three-day multimedia event held at the Takanawa Gateway City complex.  
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Six of the best: rikishi of note in each sumo division
Kazuma (right) faces off against future <i>yokozuna</i> Onosato during the All Japan Amateur Sumo Championships at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in December 2020.

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