Crossword Genius

Shifty CIA plot of current interest (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

topical

'of current interest' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'shifty cia plot' is the wordplay.
'shifty' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cia'+'plot'='ciaplot'
'ciaplot' is an anagram of 'TOPICAL'.

(Other definitions for topical that I've seen before include "Of interest at the present time" , "About current events, of present interest" , "Applied externally" , "Of local interest" , "In the news" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app