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    Spotlight | European Union
    Ursula von der Leyen organises her intelligence unit and appoints its head

    President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on 15 September 2026.
    President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on 15 September 2026.© Ronald Wittek/EPA/MaxPPP

    The president of the European Commission has just appointed a senior civil servant and former European master spy to coordinate her security council's new intelligence unit. This individual will also serve as the main point of contact for the liaison officers assigned by the European intelligence services to work with von der Leyen.

    LogoSubscribers only Agencies, Back-Door Diplomacy

    Australia, China
    Australian PM's Chinese interpreter under scrutiny for sensitive ties with China

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on 15 July 2025 in Beijing.
    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on 15 July 2025 in Beijing.© Huang Jingwen/Xinhua via AFP

    The Australian prime minister's Chinese translator's ties are causing a stir. Charles Qin has collaborated with a university from which the Guoanbu recruits and has indirect links to United Front officials. Questions are now being asked in Canberra about tightening security clearances, and potentially creating a corps of official diplomatic interpreters.

    LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy

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