intelligence service / news agency
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intelligence service
A state organization that covertly collects information about other countries, organizations, or people in order to ensure national security. Often also referred to as a secret service.
Der Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) ist der Auslands-Nachrichtendienst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is the foreign intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany.
news agency
A company or agency that collects and prepares news in order to pass it on to newspapers, television stations, or other media.
Die Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) ist ein wichtiger Nachrichtendienst für viele deutsche Zeitungen.
The German Press Agency (dpa) is an important news agency for many German newspapers.
The word is made up of 'Nachrichten' (news/messages) and 'Dienst' (service). It therefore describes an organization that provides a service related to news or information.
Dieser Dienst sammelt und verbreitet wichtige Informationen.
This service collects and distributes important information.
Pay attention to the context to distinguish the meanings. Words like 'geheim' (secret), 'Staat' (state), 'Spionage' (espionage), or 'Ausland' (foreign countries/abroad) point to an intelligence service. Words like 'Presse' (press), 'Medien' (media), or 'Agentur' (agency) indicate a news agency.
Der staatliche Nachrichtendienst warnte vor einer möglichen Gefahr.
The state intelligence service warned of a possible danger.
In connection with an intelligence service, people often speak of 'Informationen beschaffen' (obtaining information), 'überwachen' (monitoring/surveillance), or 'für den Nachrichtendienst arbeiten' (working for the intelligence service).
Er arbeitete jahrelang verdeckt für einen ausländischen Nachrichtendienst.
He worked undercover for a foreign intelligence service for years.
Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Both words can refer to a government body that covertly collects security-related information. Nachrichtendienst is the more general term for such organizations, whereas the Verfassungsschutz specifically monitors activities directed against the democratic order in Germany. Use Verfassungsschutz for this specific mission, and Nachrichtendienst in more general contexts.
Der Nachrichtendienst sammelte verdeckt Informationen über eine ausländische Organisation.
The intelligence service covertly collected information about a foreign organization.
Der Verfassungsschutz beobachtete die Gruppe wegen ihrer Bestrebungen gegen die demokratische Ordnung.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution monitored the group because of its activities directed against the democratic order.
