CIA

CIA — US intelligence agency appearing in coverage of counterterrorism operations, Havana Syndrome, and unauthorized operations abroad.

2026-04-252026-10-28

News reports

Order a long-term news report on CIA

Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

World & Region

BBC: US and Lebanon protecting wanted Syrian general

The News

A BBC and NPR investigation has found that Bassam al-Hassan, a former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity who oversaw Syria's chemical weapons programme, is being protected by US and Lebanese authorities in Lebanon. Hassan is being harboured under an arrangement involving the FBI in exchange for information about the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice and additional intelligence, despite officials from Syria's new government requesting his return to face trial.

8 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 8 October

BBC: US and Lebanon protecting wanted Syrian general
A BBC and NPR investigation has found that Bassam al-Hassan, a former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity who oversaw Syria's chemical weapons programme, is being protected by US and Lebanese authorities in Lebanon. Hassan is being harboured under an arrangement involving the FBI in exchange for information about the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice and additional intelligence, despite officials from Syria's new government requesting his return to face trial.
8 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 2 September

Putin issues veiled threat to UK over Ukraine weapons support
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded ambiguously when asked whether Moscow might strike military facilities in the UK in response to British arms supplies to Ukraine, saying "That's a secret. A military secret." The analysis characterises this as psychological pressure from the Kremlin to discourage UK support for Ukraine and suggests Russia may be escalating hybrid operations in Europe.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 26 August

ECOWAS council lacks forward-looking security threat assessments
A commentary on the 96th ECOWAS Council of Ministers session in Freetown argues that the regional body's agenda—dominated by institutional administration and economic matters—does not reflect forward-looking intelligence assessments of security threats facing the region, suggesting the organization is not configured to anticipate emerging problems.
26 August 2026 · Daily Guide →

Tuesday 11 August

Secret Service uses deception tactics to protect US presidents
The US Secret Service employs various deception strategies to protect presidents, including switching between decoy and actual aircraft and vehicles during travel. In one example, President Trump was secretly moved via catering truck from Air Force One to a separate military aircraft at a NATO summit, with decoys remaining on the original plane unaware of the switch.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 11 July

US government compensates Havana Syndrome victims with nearly $3m
The US has paid nearly $3m in compensation to victims of Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological condition affecting spies, diplomats and their families. Reports of the illness began a decade ago among CIA officers in Cuba, with sufferers describing symptoms including hearing a hum, clicks, squeals, pressure on the skull, dizziness and nausea.
11 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

Trump appoints New York prosecutor as national intelligence director
US President Donald Trump has named Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in New York, as director of national intelligence after Congress objected to his previous choice for lacking intelligence experience. Clayton, who formerly led the SEC, will oversee 18 government intelligence agencies and replace outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 5 June

Ex-CIA official accused of hiding millions in gold bars
A former CIA official, David Rush, 49, accused of stashing millions in gold bars at his Virginia home was ruled a severe flight risk by a judge and ordered to remain in jail until trial. Prosecutors describe him as a "master manipulator" who lied to neighbours and exploited his access to classified information, while his defence argues such activities are consistent with intelligence work.
5 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 1 June

ACCP urges AU, AfCFTA intervention over South Africa xenophobia
The African Chamber of Content Producers has called for African Union and AfCFTA intervention to address xenophobic attacks on African nationals in South Africa, saying the situation has prompted Ghana to evacuate approximately 300 of its nationals and risks damaging intra-African trade, tourism, and unity.
1 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 18 May

Cuba denies drone threat, accuses US of fabricating intervention case
Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez has accused the US of building a "fraudulent case" for military intervention after Axios reported, citing classified intelligence, that Cuba possessed 300 attack drones and was discussing striking US targets including Florida. Rodríguez stressed that Havana "neither threatens nor desires war."
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 28 April

Terror trial begins for man accused of plotting Vienna concert attack
A 21-year-old Austrian man has gone on trial in Wiener Neustadt charged with planning a terrorist attack on Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna in August 2024. He was arrested following a CIA tip-off before the gigs, leading to the cancellation of all three sold-out shows expected to draw more than 195,000 attendees; prosecutors accuse him of Islamic State affiliation, spreading jihadist propaganda, obtaining bomb-making instructions, and attempting to purchase weapons illegally.
28 April 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 25 April

Mexico says deceased US agents lacked permission to operate
Mexico's government said two US agents (reportedly CIA) who died in a car crash last weekend had not been authorised to operate in the country, with neither having formal accreditation to participate in operational activities. The incident occurs amid tension between Mexico and the US over counter-narcotics operations, with President Sheinbaum insisting that foreign officials can only operate on Mexican soil with prior federal clearance.
25 April 2026 · Joy Online →