espionage

A beloved beluga whale with a mysterious past was found dead in the waters of Norway over the weekend. Admirers are paying tribute as authorities investigate.

Pablo González, a journalist from Spain who had been based in Poland, was freed in the largest prisoner swap since the Soviet era, confirming suspicions that he may have been a Russian operative.

A naval chief petty officer who served on a Japan-based destroyer was found guilty of sharing classified information with a foreign government, the Navy's investigative agency said.

Mike Casey tells NPR that the scale of spying against the United States is "impressive and terrifying." He says: "More players are getting into it with more tools, going after more targets."

German officers were reportedly talking about sending weapons to Ukraine and a potential strike by Ukrainian forces on a bridge in Crimea. The German chancellor called the incident "very serious."

Julian Assange's lawyers will begin their final U.K. legal challenge on Tuesday to stop the WikiLeaks founder from being sent to the United States to face spying charges.

Victor Manuel Rocha was a State Department employee for more than 20 years. Prosecutors say during that time and in the 20 years since, he acted as an illegal agent for Cuba.

Robert Hanssen, one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history, died in prison this week. Hanssen was an FBI agent, but for years, he turned over classified information to the Soviet Union.

Hvaldimir unexpectedly headed south after several years in Norway, fueling concerns and efforts to bring him to safety. Experts say his story shines a light on how humans treat animals in general.

Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.