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- Feed Preview Intelligence Online : Latest Issue
Russia/Ukraine : Wagner recruits drone experts for Central African Republic
On 12 April, the Wagner militia in Africa urgently began recruiting people with experience using drones, who are prepared for immediate departure.
United Kingdom : Former MI6 chief John Sawers returns to intelligence via private sector
Investigative consultancy Good Governance Group (G3) has hired former Secret Intelligence Service (aka MI6) director John Sawers to chair its
UAE : AI, 6G, UAV, weapons system: Abu Dhabi's spymasters structure their tech research tools
The 16 April announcement of a $1.5bn investment by Microsoft in artificial intelligence (AI) company Group 42 (G42) and the
China/UAE : Chinese Uspace zooms in on Middle East to expand its Earth Observation business
The Chinese commercial space company Uspace Technology Group, coveted by Beijing, is planning to step up its sales effort in
France : Intelligence services keep watch as pro-Russia French fighters return from Donbas
Mickael Takahashi is fond of leaving Google reviews of the bars, restaurants and gyms he visits. For the past five months, the thirty-year-old, one of the first French nationals to have gone to f...
Yemen : Security and Intelligence Service chief Abdul Hakim Al Khaiwani jostles for position in Houthi hierarchy
The subject did not make the front pages like the missile exchanges between the Houthis and the 20-country, US-led coalition
United States : Lawyer in BTA Bank vs Ablyazov case leaves to focus on new legal AI company
As the hunt for billions of dollars in looted money from Kazakhstan's BTA Bank continues to play out in New
Vietnam : Chinese internet control specialist Beyondsoft opens Ho Chi Minh City office
Big data and cybersecurity specialist Beyondsoft Technology, which also helps censure content online in China, opened a subsidiary in Vietnam
Ukraine : Ukrainian army banks on miniaturisation for electronic warfare supremacy
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian electronic warfare specialist Infozahyst has been working on a compact new signals interception and jamming
Israel : New Israeli operator moves into commercial advertising intelligence
In early April, the multi-faceted entrepreneur Guy Gildor stepped down from the board of OpenD, an Israeli firm that specialises in
United Kingdom : Joint Expeditionary Force to strengthen influence of UK military intelligence
The United Kingdom, faced with the threat of a decline in its international influence, sees the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)
Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Zinc Network, key UK and US partner in information warfare support to Kyiv
Strategic communications firm Zinc Network is finalising its latest report on Russian disinformation campaigns in Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, which
United States : Cohen Group works to boost US defence groups in Ukraine
British general Tim Radford was NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe until last year and a few weeks ago finalised
UAE : How Abu Dhabi is carving out a place for itself in 6G
Abu Dhabi is accelerating its development of the new 6G telecoms norms, according to Intelligence Online sources, thanks to the
France/Malaysia/Turkey : Turkish networks overtake Europe in Malaysia's defence sector
According to our sources, Turkey's parastatal shipyard Savunma Teknolojieri Muhendiskil (STM) is to supply its Combat Management System (CMS) for the second batch of littoral mission ships that A...
China/Italy : After Italy's exit from Belt and Road Initiative, Meloni hopes to renew ties with Xi
Just a few months have gone by between Italy's withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in December (IO,
United Kingdom : Stuart Leach Associates, bolstered by former Bell Pottinger staff, strengthens its investigations capacities
Public relations and communications firm Stuart Leach Associates (SLA), which was set up in late 2022 by reputation management litigation
United States : APTelecom consultants at heart of US Indo-Pacific subsea cable strategy
US telecommunications services provider and consultancy APTelecom appears to be a key contractor of Google and Australian firm Telstra's Pacific
Ukraine : Ukraine deploys its new Vega drone imaging software
It goes under the name of Vega (Bexa in Cyrillic script) and is a word which Ukrainian drone operators are
France/Qatar/Switzerland/Tahiti : French corruption probe into 2022 World Cup zooms in on controversial consultant
The judge in charge of the Paris Judicial Court's financial division, Serge Tournaire, has Qatar's emir, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, in his sights. The probe launched nearly nine years ago into Qat...
Bulgaria/Ukraine : Arsenal JSC, Kyiv's Bulgarian arms hub, part 1: From Soviet equipment broker to combat drone supplier
Russian open source (OSINT) Telegram channels have been blowing up over the past few weeks. As Intelligence Online was able to confirm with Ukrainian security sources, the Bulgarian company Hades...
Bulgaria/United States : Arsenal JSC, Kyiv's Bulgarian arms... 2: A Soviet-era equipment broker's networks with the Pentagon
Bulgaria's biggest private defence company, Arsenal JSC, has recently hired Florida-based weapon distributor Manticore Defense to support its operations in
UAE : Abu Dhabi's CPX-Core42 merger plans have cyber providers worried
Emirati cyber intelligence provider CPX is to soon become part of Core42, the new entity of national artificial intelligence specialist
France : ADIT reshuffles line-up after Défense Conseil International acquisition
In the two weeks since acquiring Défense Conseil International (DCI) from the French state (IO, 22/03/24), corporate intelligence firm ADIT
Canada : Ottawa strengthens Arctic intelligence capacity to meet US expectations
As part of the federal budget presentation to parliament on 16 April, Justin Trudeau's government presented a 36-page defence policy
France/UAE : Abu Dhabi deploys charm offensive at Paris Book Fair
The Paris Book Fair, held this past weekend, was the setting for an Emirati influence offensive, wherein representatives of a research centre distributed brochures in English and Arabic attacking...
Ukraine : Homegrown Ukrainian corporate intelligence aims for big league
Ukrainian corporate intelligence firm Cosa celebrated its tenth birthday on 20 March. It was an opportunity for the small company
Africa/Hungary : Well-connected cop on track to be Hungary's consul in Chad
The Hungarian government is considering appointing Zoltán Pataki, a veteran of international security missions in Africa, to open the Hungarian
France/Indonesia/Saudi Arabia/Ukraine : Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Ukraine to star at Eurosatory defence fair
The Eurosatory defence fair, which is due to take place at Villepinte in the Paris suburbs on 17 and 21
Norway/Russia : Russian electronic warfare threat in Arctic spurs Norway into action
Russia's deployment of new electronic warfare means in the Kola Peninsula has the Norwegian Electronic Warfare Centre (NEWC) worried. The
France/Poland/Ukraine : Upset over secret French-Ukraine imagery deal
The bilateral security deal signed by French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-February contains, according to our information, a secret component: Paris...
Cambodia/Vietnam : Hun Manith, a security prince of moderate spying means
The low-profile Hun Manith is not often seen outside Phnom Penh's political circles, except for the rare diner at a
France/Moldova : Chisinau counts on Paris to help combat information attacks
A few weeks after signing a defence cooperation deal on 7 March, France and Moldova's security relations are at an
Armenia : The Blue Mosque, a rare Iranian diplomatic haven in the heart of Yerevan
The Armenian capital is not merely a place where Western powers rub shoulders uneasily with Russia and Azerbaijan. It is
Russia/Ukraine : Ukrainian military intelligence innovates to thwart Russian war effort
Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR, is mobilising the country's drone manufacturing industry to produce new systems able to strike
Israel/United States : Ex-Mossad officer goes undercover in online political ad agency battles
A former Mossad agent has provided compromising information to targeted ad agency AIDIgital against two of its former employees.
France/Ukraine : Bidders compete for Ukrainian military training contract following turbulent tender process
After a series of mishaps, candidates keen to bid on the French ministry of armed forces' restricted tender for the
Armenia/Europe/France : Former NATO secretary-general lobbying for Yerevan
Ex-NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen penned an op-ed in support of Armenia in Le Monde on 4 April, but his article failed to mention that his firm has lobbied for Yerevan since last ye...
France/Morocco/Netherlands/United States : French spy agency blocks security clearance for anti-EU job applicant
An administrative court in Versailles on 14 March upheld the decision to refuse the candidate the "top secret" clearance required
Lithuania/Russia/United Kingdom : Vilnius buys from Aaronia, Illuminate in UK, VREC speeds up production
Vilnius - Border guard buys German drone detection systemThe Lithiuanian border guard continues to increase its tool kit for controlling
Saudi Arabia : NCMS to play key role in Saudi R&D defence drive
Saudi Arabia's National Company for Mechanical Systems (NCMS) looks to be in the process of setting up a division devoted
France/United States : Race to find 5G interception openings hots up
Interception specialists are pursuing their efforts to find ways of helping the intelligence services get round the security protocols used by 5G cellular telephone networks in Standalone access ...
United States : Robotics hacking dispute with Chinese links ropes in domain companies
A dispute between a Pittsburg-based robotics company and a former employee has roped in two internet domain companies, according to
Turkey/United Kingdom/United States : Kimmel in Istanbul, M... Wallbrook, former Lebanese intelligence veteran in Washington
Istanbul - Investigations veteran Stephen Kimmel joins law firmLong based in Istanbul, the independent private investigator Stephen Kimmel has joined
France/United States : OSINT specialist Social Links launches revamp
Open source intelligence (OSINT) specialist Social Links has been busy restructuring. The company was co-founded by Ivan Shkvarun and Andrey
United States : Trump Super PAC receives consulting and research help from mysterious Florida company
The Super PAC supporting Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign has doled out millions of dollars to a mysterious limited liability
Ukraine : Kyiv faced with inter-agency spats over information warfare
The Ukrainian bodies responsible for strategic communications - stratcom - are still struggling to get their act together. That is
Saudi Arabia/United States : Saudi defence R&D zooms in on Boston's innovation ecosystem
Mishary bin Saad Al Ghunaim is one of several VIP consultants to have joined the General Authority for Defense Development
Australia/Philippines/United States : Google set to clinch deal with SubCom over Indo-Pacific submarine cables
Google Cloud and US submarine fibre optic cable specialist SubCom are currently negotiating a 10-year commercial agreement, Intelligence Online has
China/France/Hungary/Serbia : Budapest, Belgrade, Paris: a glimpse inside Xi Jinping's upcoming European tour
The date has been set for several weeks but - to the dismay of Chinese negotiators who usually like to have a precise agenda set six to eight weeks in advance - the content of the talks is still ...
Serbia/United Kingdom : Belgrade-based British sleuths seek to create corporate intelligence hub in Serbia
Investigators Jason MacCarthy and Jelena Griffiths are scouting for new researchers to bolster the team of their newly formed association
France : Paris premiere of French secret service documentary draws intelligence crème de la crème
The head of the French foreign intelligence service DGSE, Nicolas Lerner, and his predecessor, diplomat Bernard Emié, both attended the
China/Ecuador/Serbia/United States : Intel agencies fret over Chinese migrants arriving in US via strange new routes
Ecuador, Serbia and the Northern Mariana Islands are just some of the countries and territories that have been visited by
Saudi Arabia : Abdullah bin Amer Al Swaha, at the heart of the forthcoming Saudi-made 'DARPA'
Although usually keen to publicise its every new defence creation, Riyadh is trying to keep a veil of modesty over
UAE : Abu Dhabi spymaster puts his stamp on Emirati space sector remodelling
Last December's announcement of plans to set up the parastatal space conglomerate, Space42, was just the prelude. According to our information, which is based on internal documents, the Emirates ...
Russia/Ukraine : Kyiv could ban Telegram, a key digital battleground in Russia-Ukraine war
The Russian-made messaging application Telegram has everyone talking in Kyiv. Intelligence Online understands that the Ukrainian government could soon ban
United States : New CIA deputy digital innovation lead accelerates shift to AI
After five years as the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation, Jennifer Ewbank officially stepped down on 1 April, leaving
France/Moldova/Ukraine : Tension in Kyiv's defence ministry, France's DGRIS report due, Chisinau audit
Ukraine: Bad atmosphere at defence ministryIntelligence Online has learned that the atmosphere in the corridors of Ukraine's defence ministry is
United States : Havana syndrome's origins worsen strategic headache for US intelligence
In reaction to the latest media revelations about Russia's possible involvement in the mysterious "Havana syndrome", the US's Office of
Hungary : Budapest boosts its soft-power arsenal
The Hungarian government has acquired yet another tool for political influence abroad by setting up the John Lukacs Institute within
Taiwan/United States : How Taipei slammed brakes on US-led private special forces project
As details emerge from lawsuits filed by private service providers in the US, it appears that a project to train
United States : New Space intelligence troubles worry Pentagon agencies
The same day geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) firm Planet published its results, 28 March, its president of product and business, Kevin
Armenia/Azerbaijan/France/Israel : NSO Group embroiled in Paris-Baku information wars
A screenshot of a data extraction platform, seen by Intelligence Online, brings a third party into the fray of the information wars waging between France and Azerbaijan. The screenshot suggests t...
Albania/Kosovo/Macedonia/United Kingdom : London reinforces its investigative training provider in the Balkans
The meeting on 20 March between the Secretary General of the Kosovo Prosecutor's Office, Sami Istrefi, and representatives of the
France : Electronic warfare: France's strategic air forces ready to play Russian-refined Poker
France's Strategic Air Forces (FAS), one of the national air force's nuclear deterrent units, will this week launch their large-scale,
United States/Venezuela : Venezuela's PDVSA hires lobbying help as asset battle heats up
Embroiled in a fierce lobbying saga in the United States, the ad-hoc board of embattled Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA
France/Uzbekistan : Boukhara restaurants, home away from home for Uzbek officials in Paris
Should they get bored of French cuisine while in Paris, officers from Uzbekistan's national security service (SGB) can easily find
Belarus : Dmitri Pavlichenko, Lukashenko's special forces 'influencer'
Aged 58, Dmitri Pavlichenko these days devotes some of his free time to the veterans' association Chest ('honour' in Russian),
Russia : Russia's FSO takes its slice of wayward oligarchs' assets
The wave of "deprivatisation" of profitable assets in favour of securocrats close to Vladimir Putin (IO, 24/11/23 and 20/04/23) continues.
China/Japan/North Korea : Chinese and US manoeuvres behind aborted meeting between Fumio Kishida and Kim Yo-Jong
A subtle game of four-player chess between Beijing and Pyongyang on the one side and Washington and Tokyo on the other was played out against the backdrop of an aborted meeting between Japanese P...
China/Taiwan/United States : ODNI farms out study into Chinese aggression
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), headed by Avril Haines, has commissioned an external research centre to
China/Taiwan : State Security agenda for Xi's meeting with former Taiwanese president
Intelligence Online understands that the Chinese Ministry of State Security, or Guoanbu, has pushed for President Xi Jinping to accept
Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Sales rep to Pakistani navy, Ali Alwabel, trades in on Newcastle-Riyadh connections
Ali Alwabel, head of the consultancy Saudi Business Links (SBL), is a busy man. He has been representing Karachi Shipyard
Canada/European Union/France : ChapsVision and TRM Labs on ...eat intelligence, Canada's digital counter-intelligence probes
Paris - ChapsVision and TRM Labs favourites to win interior ministry's main crypto investigation contractThe French big data analytics specialist
Poland/Ukraine : Poland's Nil unit providing Kyiv intelligence with drones and training
Torn between public opinion that is increasingly hostile to Ukraine and the threat posed by Moscow on its eastern border, Warsaw has been discreetly supplying drones and training to Ukrainian art...
France : Antoine Creux steps down as Société Générale security chief, with no designated successor
Antoine Creux will step down as head of security at Société Générale at the end of this week, according to
China/Hungary : CCP takes BRI a step further with Global Security Initiative
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) envoys have asked first Bhutan, then Hungary, Serbia and several Pacific island nations to go beyond
United Kingdom/United States : CT Group sees Russian litigation funder's hand behind legal woes
Strategic communications provider and private investigator CT Group must have let out a sigh of relief on 28 March when
China/France : Differences over Ukraine cloud Xi's trip to France
China's special envoy for Ukraine Li Hui's mission to Europe from 3 to 11 March has thrown a spanner in
Thailand : Defence networks in flux
Datagate and RV Connex are striving to update their networks in Bangkok. As partners of Western defence groups, the two
Georgia/United States : Pentagon contractors return to Georgia, on the front line against Russia
The US defence services group Amentum is stepping up its recruitment drive in Tbilisi, as new Pentagon funds are released
Ukraine : How threat intelligence has become a commodity between Kyiv and its allies
Western governments supporting Ukrainian cyber defence favour strengthening the country's threat intelligence capabilities, as Cyber Capacity Building programmes come with
Brazil/France/United Kingdom/United States : Audere, CLP Risk Management, SITE in Riyadh, Prisme Intelligence
London/New York - Audere expands into US with Glenn JohnstonThe British investigations and private security provider Audere Group has brought
China/Colombia/France/Vietnam : French domestic spy agency's role in citizenship applications under judicial scrutiny
Julien Zanatta, the lawyer for a Chinese national whose application to become a French citizen was rejected by an administrative court in Nantes in February (IO, 14/03/24), confirmed to Intellige...
France/Poland : France trains Warsaw's geospatial intelligence experts
French experts have for the past few days been training around 10 Polish image interpreters in satellite imagery at France's
Germany : Corporate Intelligence firm System 360's ex-spymasters split off after exposure
Intelligence Online has learned that a group of former System 360 senior managers have opened a new intelligence firm in
Kazakhstan/United Kingdom : Bekenov connects ex-Kazakh president's foundations with UK business circles
Businessman Gani Bekenov had a front row seat at the Warwick Qazaq Ball, a Kazakh community event hosted by the
Canada : Eyeing reform, intelligence services scrutinise foreign interference investigations
The resumption on 27 March of the foreign interference commission chaired by Quebec judge Marie-Josée Hogue appears to be a
France/Vietnam : Leadership change leaves France hanging over bilateral presidential visits
The president of Vietnam is booked for an official visit to France in October for the Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterêts.
UAE : The networks surrounding Abu Dhabi's new strategic airport operator
Air services conglomerate Terminals Holding was until very recently virtually unknown in Abu Dhabi. But after recently signing a flurry
France/Israel/Palestine/United States : Inside Fogbow's floating pier operation to resupply Gaza
Countries wanting to ease the Israeli blockade of Gaza have for weeks been taken by the private initiative of fledgling company Fogbow. The brand-new extreme logistics company is currently tourin...
China/France/Italy/Russia : DGSE drama, career officer for Leningrad, Italy-China dialogue
France - DGSE, DGSI and DRM reshuffle drama in parliament recountedThe minutes published on 21 March of last year's parliamentary
Ukraine : Kyiv reshuffle: military intelligence expertise to revitalise foreign spy agency
The round of new security appointments in Kyiv in late March is testament to the Ukrainian executive power's drive to
Hungary : PM Orban's young adviser Balazs Orban rearranges his foreign policy tools
The Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA), formerly the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT), also known by its
Europe/Ukraine/United States : Ukrainian company at vanguard of NATO's information wars
Ukrainian start-up Osavul, which specialises in fighting disinformation, has just won a NATO contract to counter influence operations in the
Armenia/Azerbaijan/France : Paris keeps close eye on Baku after disinformation campaigns
The intensification of reputational attacks against French interests in Armenia, targeting in particular the ambassador in Yerevan, Olivier Decottignies (IO, 22/03/24), who has received death thr...
United States : Palantir employee seeking to ban TikTok emerges as large Trump donor
The super PAC supporting former president Donald Trump's 2024 run was given a cash infusion from a key employee of
Japan/Saudi Arabia : Essam Al Bukhary, the man behind Dragon Ball theme park and central cog of Saudi-Japanese networks
On 22 March, the Saudi monarchy announced the construction of a theme park devoted to the famed Japanese animated series
United States : FBI takes interest in suspected hacking of robotics company
The FBI is probing the hacking of a Pittsburgh-based robotics company, which was allegedly committed by a former employee, Intelligence
Pakistan : Zaheer Ahmed Baber, a steady pilot for Pakistan's increasingly busy air force
Pakistani Prime Minister Shebhaz Sharif on 17 March granted Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu a one-year extension to head
Russia/Ukraine : Hotel President, the Moscow setting for a Ukrainian hi-tech intelligence op
Overlooking the Moskva river, the Russian capital's imposing President Hotel was the setting for a recent successful human intelligence operation
UAE : Abu Dhabi influence lever Terminals Holding seeks work with own military
Terminals Holding, an Emirati aeronautical services provider that has been managing airports in Afghanistan via subsidiary GAAC since 2021, in
Europe/Russia : Western intelligence concerned over Russia's military build-up near Baltic states
Satellites from the French Optical Space Component (CSO), operated by the French Military Intelligence Directorate (DRM), have for several days been monitoring the build-up of Russian forces in B...
United States : In trouble over Russian links, oil trader Niels Troost hires ex-Biden aide to fend off sanctions
Dutch oil trader Niels Troost has hired a former Joe Biden aide to lobby for him in Washington as he
Africa/France/Israel/Russia/UAE : Presight picks Anton Kharitonov, DCI's ISR drones, Falkor and Epieos
Abu Dhabi: Russian OSINT expert heads Presight's intelligence teamsEmirati artificial intelligence specialist Group 42 (G42) may have hit the headlines
Australia : Intelligence chiefs at odds with Albanese government over foreign interference
Two days before Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to Canberra on 20 March, news that the National Security Committee
France/Indonesia : Naval Group makes headway in Jakarta on submarine contract
According to sources in both Paris and Jakarta, French shipping company Naval Group is about to sign an agreement with Indonesian firm PT PAL.
Armenia/United States : Ghosts of the American private military company Mozart Group haunt Yerevan
A year after it ceased activity, the American volunteer company Mozart Group, which operated like a private military company but
Kazakhstan/United Kingdom : Astra Mining aims to lead UK rare earths exploration drive in Kazakhstan
The British government, in an effort to meet its need for rare metals as quickly as possible, has recently been
France/United States : OSINT specialists turn to 'no-auth' to investigate on social networks
The French interior ministry has awarded the three lots dedicated to open source intelligence (OSINT) in its Cyber III major four-year investment plan. While two of them stipulate the need for an...
Hong Kong : Western corporate intelligence persists in believing in Hong Kong market
Intelligence Online understands Stuart Witchell, a veteran in financial investigations in Asia, former head of Asia-Pacific at JS Held, which
France : Paris triaging Eurosatory arms dealers
For the first time in the history of the defence industry, arms manufacturers from a number of countries have been
Armenia : Erevan moves to reinforce its cyber defences
Discussions are currently in full flow in the Armenian parliament regarding the future cyber defence law, which is seen as
United States : Fired Kroll top executive hits back with lawsuit
The corporate intelligence firm Kroll LLC and one of its former top employees are involved in a legal battle following her dismissal for allegedly taking confidential information home with her. A...
France/United Kingdom : Paris Arbitration Week, Portland, K2, Idesus
Paris - International firms' interest in arbitration cases keeps growingPrivate sleuth companies came in even greater numbers this year to
Vietnam : Vietnam's Tô Lâm consolidates his public security ministry after fall of president
As the driving force behind Vietnam's anti-corruption drive (IO, 07/07/22), public security minister Tô Lâm has since January been making
Hungary/Russia : The diplomat feeding Russian narratives to Hungarian media ahead of European elections
In the shadow of Russian ambassador Evgeny Stanislavov (see box below), fellow diplomat Tigran Garibian is the real mastermind of
France/Ukraine : Leader of French military's Task Force Ukraine decamping to private sector
As Intelligence Online understands, Nicolas Le Nen has been busy networking in recent weeks in order to line up his
France : Kroll investigative division in Paris still looking for a new boss
No new director of investigations has yet been selected for the French branch of the US investigative giant Kroll, following
Saudi Arabia : Aramco vies for share of secure communications systems
Fahad al-Dossary, the chief strategy, technology and innovation officer of the national oil company Aramco's subsidiary Sofon Industries - which
Russia : Inside Russia's new military AI drones
Russia's defence industry thronged this year's artificial intelligence and robotics show at Moscow's President Hotel from 12 to 14 March,
Africa/Russia : Wagner struggles to fill African vacancies
March is proving to be a tough month for Wagner recruiters. Messages posted to closed channels on Telegram reveal that the parastatal paramilitary group is urgently seeking new blood to relieve p...
United States/Vietnam : Hanoi keeps US firms at arms length as political turmoil deepens
Despite their efforts, the head of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and former US ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, and
France : Encryption startup CyferAll plans capital increase, banks on military networks
The French post-quantum encryption company CyferAll is looking to raise more capital, according to Intelligence Online sources. The start-up launched
Serbia/Switzerland : Serbian security services target corporate intelligence
The episode has put all involved on the spot, but none more so than investigators working closely or even not
Europe/Iraq/United States : Inside the UN investigation of Islamic State crimes closing at Baghdad's request
The head of the United Nations team investigating crimes committed in Iraq by the Islamic State organisation (IS/Daesh/ISIS), Christian Ritscher,
United States : Critical minerals: intelligence mobilised to support US firms facing Chinese threat
In a bipartisan bill introduced on 14 March, lawmakers called on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
Algeria/Cambodia/Hungary : DRM flags Chinese drones in Algi...ns, NATO spy's double court defeat, Cambodia's cyber bill back
Algeria: French military intelligence alarmed by Algiers' long-range dronesThe information published on 13 March by the Algerian military blogger ORCA
China/Ukraine : SBU hunts Chinese spies interested in Western weapons
After several attempts by Beijing diplomats to court Ukrainian drone manufacturers (IO, 30/01/24), the SBU state security service has relaunched its campaign to track down Chinese spies. Two nati...
France : French government gives green light for ADIT takeover of armed forces' operator DCI
Intelligence Online has learned that France's Commission for Shareholdings and Transfers, an independent body to which Economy Minister Bruno Le
Qatar : Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, from lawyer to chief Gaza negotiator
Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, who was appointed by a decree from the Emir to his current job exactly one year
Azerbaijan/UAE : Baku Cafe Dubai, the jewel in the crown of the Aliyevs' influence investments
Tucked away in the heart of Dubai's City Walk district with its bohemian-chic setting designed by Ukrainian studio Belenko, the
UAE : Crowdfense reboots bug bounty programme
After months of reorganisation, the Emirati retailer of non-referenced vulnerabilities, or zero-day exploits, Crowdfense, has rolled out its new acquisition
Armenia/Azerbaijan/France : Paris caught up in Armenia's in...ttles extending from internet underbelly to streets of Yerevan
On a recent stroll down Yerevan's Northern Avenue, the city's main pedestrian shopping street, Intelligence Online was able to observe the guerilla influence tactics being deployed in the Armenia...
France/United Kingdom/United States : UK fund to inject capital into Forward Global
The chairman of Forward Global (formerly Avisa Partners), Matthieu Creux, is expected to announce that a new investment fund will
Vietnam : Ministries in turf war over international contracts
Defence Minister Phan Van Giang is continuing his clear-out of Vietnam's defence sector (IO, 15/12/23). But behind the scenes a
United States/Venezuela : Venezuelan opposition leader gets help from pro-Democrat lobbying firm
Emprendamos Inc., a charity run by Venezuelan opposition politician Leocenis Garcia, hired Washington-based lobbying firm Blue Star Strategies earlier this
United States : Washington embraces broader rules for OSINT under CIA guidance
The annual threat assessment hearings, held on 11 and 12 March in Congress, drew the contours of the battles ahead
Iran/Russia/Ukraine : Moscow's new drones dodge Kyiv's electronic countermeasures
Kyiv is concerned that its Pokrova flagship electronic warfare system could be rendered obsolete by the new interception technology (SIGINT)
India : L3Harris and Thales in contention to equip new Indian spy plane
The Indian intelligence sector's main procurement programme, the Signal Intelligence and COMJAM Aircraft (SCA) project, aims to use the Airbus
South Korea/United States : 5G already vulnerable to new interception techniques
Several lawful interception firms have developed tools to bypass the security protocols of the 5G telecommunications network in its Standalone Access (SA) version and are offering those to their ...
Chile/Europe/France/Italy/United Kingdom : Dataflow eyes UK...sion, AGIS in Chile, Forward Global and Airbus win EDA tenders
Bassano del Grappa - Dataflow Security sets sights on British intelligence marketDataflow Security, a company specialising in zero-day vulnerabilities, is
France/United Kingdom : Schillings, ADIT, Erys
London - Schillings takes on new analystOpen source intelligence specialist Max Wyatt, who also covers social media surveillance with a
United Kingdom/United States : Corporate intelligence firm Hakluyt serves as British MP's ambassador to US tech giants
The US offices of the British corporate intelligence and consulting firm Hakluyt, headed by Varun Chandra and chaired by Paul
France/Russia : French army think tank not immune to Moscow's information machine
Following a question from a journalist, the French Army's Centre for Doctrine and Command Teaching (CDEC), headed since last year
Europe/United States : Pentagon fine-tunes intelligence structure in Europe
The US Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF, IO, 19/05/23), based in Wiesbaden, Germany, will soon welcome a new legal adviser.
Vietnam : ICOMM spearheading Vietnam's internet surveillance effort
Vietnam's ICOMM Media & Tech has won a VND 5.6bn ($225,000) contract from the information and communication service of the
Belgium : Belgium enters space SIGINT race
Belgium's AerospaceLab wants some of the European market for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and radio frequency interception (SIGINT RF), having simultaneously
Ukraine/United States : Pro-Russia oligarch still escaping US sanctions despite crackdown
As the US continues to crack down on pro-Russian oligarchs and their assets, one prominent name has so far escaped sanctions, even though multiple agencies have received investigative reports all...
United States : Star trader Greg Coffey buys Russian-exposed fund, seeks sanctions protection in Washington
On 23 February, the Washington lobbying firm founded by Robert Stryk, Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD) - formerly Sonoran Policy Group
Russia/Vatican : Pope plans Moscow visit in June as part of Ukraine mediation
Russia's ambassador to the Holy See, Ivan Soltanovsky, has invited Pope Francis to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow in June,
United Kingdom : UK intelligence funding cuts hidden in pre-election budget
Despite aggressive public declarations on defence issues, the budgetary choices of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government point to a
Czech Republic/France/Qatar : Mirage 2000 fleet looking for new home
The newly elected Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, has decided not to buy a fleet of 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets
France/India : Paris and Delhi join underwater acoustic intelligence forces
France and India are upping their cooperation in cutting-edge intelligence sectors, in particular underwater acoustics aided by artificial intelligence (AI)
Poland/Taiwan/United States : How former US special forces want to train civilian commando units to counter Chinese attacks
Since billionaire Robert Tsao, founder of the giant microchip group United Microelectronics Corp, announced in September 2022 plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on the creation of an elit...
France : Court upholds state's refusal to pay legal fees of French officer suspected of spying for Russia
On 14 February, Paris's administrative court of appeal overturned a ruling that would have allowed Lieutenant-Colonel L. to be given
Russia : Russian officers bristling for NATO fight after Macron hints
French President Emmanuel Macron's repeated suggestions that French and allied troops could be sent to support Kyiv have caused something
France/Russia/Switzerland/United States : DGSI interpreter loses job, secret Arctic diplomacy flounders
Paris - The cost of DGSI Arabic interpreter's extended leaveThe contractor began working as an interpreter and translator from Arabic
UAE : Abu Dhabi's powerful Ghobash, the family behind the UAE's 'Foreign Legion' project
As we reported on 15 March (IO, 15/03/24), the Emirati plan to create its own "Foreign Legion" within its armed
Netherlands/United States : Tech sector to help international justice fight cyber-enabled crimes
Intelligence Online has been able to sneak a peek at the list of guests who attended the conference that Karim
United Kingdom/United States : Amazon, Oracle: Pentagon cloud mega-contract influence peddlers settle scores in court
A surreal scene played out on in London on 15 June 2022 when André Pienaar's assistant received a phone call from two Americans wanting to speak to Daniel Freeman. They thought the former managi...
France/UAE : French ex-commando setting up Emirates' secret 'Foreign Legion'
"Job title: Foreign Legion Operator": the ad that has been circulating among French special forces veterans in recent days seems
France : Naval Group boosts AI teams in quest for artificial 'golden ears'
With less than a year to go before it must deliver the first operational example of a major French underwater
China : Translators caught up in Beijing's drive to bring financial sector to heel
As the authorities continue their drive to restore ideological orthodoxy in the Chinese financial sector, translation department heads in the
United States : Puerto Rican bank says New York Fed disregarded K2 Integrity's guidance
Banco San Juan Internacional (BSJI) continues to battle the Federal Reserve Bank of New York over its decision to revoke
Germany : Martina Rosenberg, the bureaucrat handling fallout over Ukraine leak
It was a ruckus that the Bundesamt für den Militärischen Abschirmdienst (BAMAD), Germany's military counter-intelligence service, could well have done without:
Vietnam : Hanoi's Hotel Metropole, a draw for spies both real and fictional
At 123 years old, the five-star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is doing well, flying the flag of the Accor group
France : Scutum defence arm SATIF gears up to contend with DCI Group
The Scutum group is planning to forge closer ties between Scutum Security First (SSF) and SATIF (Services et Assistance en
China/France : Chinese woman refused French naturalisation over husband's ties to Beijing intelligence
A French court last month upheld the interior ministry's 2021 refusal to grant French nationality to a woman of Chinese
Bulgaria/Europe : Sofia doubles down to convince allies of counter-espionage capabilities
Plamen Tonshev, head of the State Agency for National Security, DANS (IO, 23/06/21), is being swamped with reports from his
Russia/United States : HawkEye and Sierra Nevada swap staff...ian electronic warfare warrior 3MX, BGR fails to save Sandvine
San Antonio, Texas - Sierra Nevada Corp and HawkEye 360 staff criss-cross pathsThe two long-standing intelligence community service providers HawkEye
United States : Rising drone technology star Hidden Level steps up Washington lobbying effort with Cornerstone
The drone detection and counter-threat technology firm Hidden Level has stepped up its Washington lobbying efforts by retaining in late February Cornerstone
China : United Front to play pivotal role in Xi's new foreign policy
Intelligence Online previously revealed how all Chinese associations, including the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which is China's instrument of influence abroad (IO, 28/02/23 and 22/01/24...
Luxembourg : Luxembourg asset firm's clients allegedly included sanctioned oligarchs
Whistleblower allegations obtained by Intelligence Online show that the FBI probe into the client list of two Luxembourg asset management
Bahrain/Saudi Arabia/United States : Maritime drone manufacturer Saildrone building new networks in Washington and Riyadh
Californian company Saildrone presented its maritime intelligence and ocean mapping projects at Saudi Arabia's World Defense Show, which took place
United States : Prominent congressional aide drawn into court fight between figures linked to Russiagate
A top congressional staffer who was reported to be under investigation on February 24 for delivering military equipment to Ukraine's armed
United Kingdom/United States : Reputational risk management...odus, from JS Held to Delta Consulting, Hollis moves to Aperio
New York - JPMorgan hires ESG investigator to boost reputation protectionTo improve the management of reputational risk in its investment
Germany : Berlin MPs want answers over hypothetical 'German commandos' in Ukraine
On 4 March, MPs from Germany's far-right AfD party tabled a parliamentary question calling on the federal government to clarify
France/United States : Paris poised to pick new UN ambassador
The French diplomat Luis Vassy is slated to replace Nicolas de Rivière as the United Nation's Permanent Representative of France in New York, according to Intelligence Online sources.
Russia/Ukraine : Kolossal versus Rybar: Kyiv and Moscow race to militarise OSINT
The Ukrainian creators of the DeepStateMap.live open source interactive online intelligence map are currently testing the beta version of their
China : Beijing building space intelligence 'string of pearls' over Indo-Pacific region
The launch of China's mysterious TJS-11 spy satellite on 23 February, whose capacities and objectives were unknown at the time, has given Washington a scare. Since the launch, Intelligence Online...
Europe/United States : Military intelligence supplier Mission Essential is back
The historic US defence and intelligence community service provider Mission Essential has recently hired Scott Murray, a former senior executive
Poland : Warsaw plays spy satellite catch-up
Jacek Strzelczyk's Polish company SATIM is to take part in Poland's radar constellation project after its Satrec artificial intelligence (AI)
Kazakhstan/United Kingdom/United States : Kazakh justice ministry investigates law firm it often used
Having signed a contract on 28 February running until the end of the year with US law firm Brown Rudnick,
China : Xi's foreign policy strategist Yang Jiemian banks on the BRICS
Beijing's foreign policy ideologue Yang Jiemian is drawing the contours of the country's new diplomacy, following the path set by
France : French parliament's examination of FARA-like foreign interference bill fast-tracked
On 13 March, the French National Assembly's Law Committee will examine the draft law "aimed at preventing foreign interference in
Pakistan : Islamabad appoints new minister to beef up support for defence exports
Among the first appointments in the new Pakistani government on 4 March was that of Lieutenant General Muhammad Chiragh Haider
France : French financial intelligence in major reboot after Tracfin boss ousted
"Violence is the other face of sincerity" and other such aphorisms: the staff of Tracfin, the French finance ministry's anti-money laundering unit, can no longer receive messages of this kind, as...
Albania/France/Iran/United States : Lobbyist Robert Joseph ...ational Council of Resistance in Iran, a favourite of US right
A former senior official with the National Security Council who has called for "regime change" to remove the Islamic government in
China/France/Russia/United Kingdom : DGSE's missing bigwig, SIS's white male problem, Beijing's Moscow capital curbs
France: Glaring no-show at Émié's DGSE leaving doNot everyone who was expected to be present was at the ceremony in
France : Insider tipped to head French anti-terrorism prosecutor's office
Olivier Christen, a close friend of justice minister Éric Dupond-Moretti and a trusted member of the French executive, is on
Pakistan/Saudi Arabia : Pakistani naval industry makes Saudi inroads
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) is getting to work in the Gulf. The Pakistani shipyard was noticed at the
France : Interior ministry's first Cyber III awards favour ChapsVision
Intelligence Online understands that the French interior ministry has begun to award the first batches in the tender call for
United States : Intelligence becomes diplomatic weapon at US State Department
At their annual hearing on 11 March in the Senate and 12 March at the House of Representatives, the heads of the US intelligence community will be accompanied by a representative of the State Dep...
France : Global Diwan keen to find new partner to gain staying power
Global Diwan, a business club geared towards the Gulf, will host a conference on the meaning and practice of fasting
Russia/Ukraine/United States : Premier Palace, the Kyiv hotel popular with Russian spies and American political operatives
If you find yourself looking for a luxurious stay in the center of Kyiv, the five-star Premier Palace Hotel would
Israel : HolistiCyber takes on cyber decision support platforms
The Israeli cybersecurity firm Holistic Cyber (or HolistiCyber) is moving into decision support platforms with the launch earlier this year
Azerbaijan : Baku's masterminds tracking down opponents abroad
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's re-election to a fifth term in early February has strengthened the hand of the state security
France/Indonesia/United States : Indonesia chooses BlackSky over Thales and Leonardo for satellite imaging analytics
In the annual results published 26 February, US earth observation specialist BlackSky lifted the veil a little on the $50m contract it won from the Indonesian defence ministry for the supply of G...
Russia/Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Inside the lobbying and PR drive in Washington for pro-Russian Ukrainian church
On 25 February, Latvian researcher Pekka Kallioniemi mocked London-based attorney Robert Amsterdam on X (formerly Twitter) as a tool of the Kremlin. Amsterdam, who
Ukraine : Ukraine's economic intelligence service struggles to reform
Ukraine's Economic Security Bureau (ESB) remains in disarray (IO, 15/06/23 and 28/08/23) despite being due to be "relaunched" at the
France : Employee lawsuit draws unwanted attention to armament council
On 15 June 2023, the French administrative court of Melun issued a ruling that for many went unnoticed but for
Armenia/France/United States : Washington paves way for France's defence contracts in Yerevan
Arquus armoured vehicles, Thales GM200 radars, Mistral anti-aircraft transportable missiles and, probably soon to come, Crotale missiles and SAMP-T anti-air
Chile/UAE/United States : John Miner at Two Six Technologies, Shadow Dragon in Chile, Ankit Satsangi joins BEEAH Group
Arlington - John Miner joins Two Six TechnologiesUS cyber intelligence firm Two Six Technologies has brought on board John Miner, a
France : Interior ministry and police fight for cyber offensive tools
The French interior ministry is considering extending the use of remote computer data capture to some police forces, according to
Germany/Russia : Ukraine targets German space sector over Russian links
Ukrainian open-source investigation agency Molfar, which has close links with the domestic intelligence service (SBU), is once again scrutinising the entourage, activities and connections with Mo...
France : Investigations firm Cristal Group looks ahead after turbulent 2023
Cristal Group, the corporate intelligence concern led by former lawyer Kevin Alili-Rivaton, is looking to get back on track this
China : Beijing prepares to deploy Belt and Road 'militia'
Intelligence Online understands Hungary is to be the first European country in which members of China's military reserve units, the
Russia/United States : Russian oligarch hires US lawyers and PR execs to help prove he owns seized superyacht
Russian oligarch Eduard Khudainatov is pushing back against the US government's attempts to force a sale of a $300m yacht that he claims belongs to him with the help of a team of US lawyers and p...
Europe/United Kingdom/United States : G4S bumps out Amarant...ate, former CIA officer goes solo, Montrose Associates expands
Brussels - G4S, not Amarante, to protect EEAS team in PretoriaAfter several twists and turns, the European Union's European External
Ukraine : Buntar Aerospace at vanguard of Ukraine's ISR
Ukrainian start-up Buntar Aerospace, headed by Ivan Kaunov and his partner Bohdan Sas, is completing tests on its Rebel-1 tactical
France/Saudi Arabia : Saudi 4G military communications overhaul in jeopardy
Saudi's foreign intelligence service, the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), domestic security service, the Presidency of State Security (PSS) and the
Hungary : Recruitment problems delay Hungary's Chad mission
Hungary is struggling to recruit the minimum contingent of 140 soldiers (up to 400 in total for rotations) for a
France/Saudi Arabia : Affinis dissects Saudi military-industrial complex for French defence
French naval manufacturers paid close attention to a recent report from Affinis Défense, a branch of Philippe Chabrol's corporate intelligence
Ukraine : Kyiv seeks to breathe new life into tactical interceptions
The head of Ukraine's electronic warfare units, Colonel Andriy Starykov, has since February 2023 been working on a complete restructuring
France : Bruno Delamotte returns to the world of private security with SSF
Out of the security business since his ouster from Risk & Co in mid-2017, corporate intelligence veteran Bruno Delamotte is returning to the market as an adviser to Scutum International Solutions...
France/Saudi Arabia : French arms procurement agency helping Naval Group navigate Saudi waters
Naval Group is busy in Riyadh. The French shipyard is still looking to sell its Gowind corvettes to the Royal Saudi Navy (RSN), but more importantly a batch of its defense and intervention frigat...
Taiwan/United States : Richard Gephardt, Taiwan's passionate lobbyist in Washington
Retired Congressman Richard Gephardt, the House Democratic Leader for more than 14 years, just completed six months of intensive lobbying for
China/Taiwan : China launches ‘modernisation' from Fujian province to better swallow Taiwan
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is instructing officials in the coastal province of Fujian and the Taipei-administered islands of Kinmen
Germany : German intelligence services facing accusations of politicisation and sluggishness
The German Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr) issued a measured report on 23 February on the German intelligence services. But that
United Kingdom : Theresa May reunites with ex-advisers in private sector
Theresa May, who served as UK prime minister from 2016 to 2019, recently partnered up with two of her former
China/Europe/France/Hungary/Serbia/United Kingdom : FCDO's Indo-Pacific head, Xi's European trip, extra DGSE renovations
UK: Owen Jenkins takes charge of FCDO's Indo-Pacific officeIn choosing Owen Jenkins as the new interim director general for its
Turkey : MIT takes pride in efforts to expose real or supposed spy networks in Turkey
"Turkey is no longer a free espionage area." It is with those words that Turkey's intelligence service, MIT, congratulated itself
Belarus : Defector officers launch new psychological campaign against regime
Alongside his honorary duties as shadow defence minister in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's (or Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's) self-proclaimed government-in-exile, former military officer Valery
France/Myanmar : Myanmar's opposition in exile given lukewarm welcome in Paris
Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government's (NUG) foreign minister Zin Mar Aung had hoped her trip to the French capital at
China/Middle East/Pakistan : Beijing prospects Gulf states via Pakistani defence firms
The Khalid, a relic of a time when Paris hoped to turn Pakistan into a defence preserve, is out and
Singapore/Thailand : Cellebrite culls Asia-Pacific sales team
As Intelligence Online understands, the latest person to fall victim to Israeli cyber specialist Cellebrite's reorganisation of its Asia-Pacific sales
United States : The Bidens' accuser and FBI informant appears linked to fraud schemes
The ex-FBI informant who was arrested last month for allegedly lying about claims he made regarding President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, appears to have had extensive business connectio...
United Kingdom : Private eye Walter Soriano facing lawsuit from leading figure of Russian food sector
Tony Maher is suing British-Israeli consultant Walter Soriano and his legal assistance and crisis management investigation firm, USG Security. The
South Korea : Cho Tae-yong, Seoul's last chance to pull the National Intelligence Service out of crisis
The appointment at the end of December of Cho Tae-yong as director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), South Korea's
Vietnam : Thales and Lockheed Martin still hopeful in race for Vietnamese telecommunications satellite
With its telecommunications satellites Vinasat-1 and Vinasat-2 almost at their end of life, Vietnam is looking for an industrial partner
United States : With LUNO A, NGA switches track to generative AI for GEOINT
New providers of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) applications are taking a keen interest in the latest
Poland/Ukraine : Ukraine's iconic military clothing supplier M-Tac in tactical retreat
The three flags of Ukraine, Poland and the European Union fly proudly in front of the hangar at 87 Stefana Starzyńskiego Street, in Dawidy Bankowe, a suburb around 15 km south of Warsaw. Ukraini...
Russia/Ukraine : Passport to influence: Kyiv fights its own nationalities battle
From mid-March, and for a period of two years, Ukraine's interior ministry is to run a project designed to enforce
United States : Nardello & Co hit by lawsuit linked to bankruptcy of pro-Trump Chinese businessman
The sprawling bankruptcy case of Chinese businessman Guo Wengui has roped in corporate intelligence firm Nardello & Co, after it
European Union/Italy/United States : Frontex shops for airb... Monti Knode joins the Space Force, Variston loses researchers
Warsaw - Frontex invites bids for its airborne surveillance contractsIt is a difficult time for the European Union (EU) border
United States : Balkan specialist seeks to turn out Serbian-Americans for Donald Trump in US elections
Olga Ravasi, a former private security contractor in the Balkans is working to boost Serbian-American voter turnout for Donald Trump
China/North Korea/Russia : Beijing lets North Korean workers protest near border to pressure Pyongyang
Intelligence Online understands that North Korean workers in the cantons of Jilin province in northern China, along the border with
South Korea : KAI's made-in-Airbus light armed helicopters cop flak
Not all those destined to use Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)'s light armed helicopters (LAH) are happy with the choice of
Israel : ADINT versus zero-click, the new battle of infection vectors
In 2022, a chain of zero-day zero-click vulnerabilities sold by Dataflow Security cost nearly €2m, as Intelligence Online reported at the time (IO, 30/06/22) - by all accounts a significant but...
Montenegro/Russia/Singapore/United Kingdom/United States : ..., ex-Fulcrum lawyer goes solo, wave of departures at Blackpeak
London - Piers Lunnon-Wood splits time between Satori and BlacklightInvestigator Piers Lunnon-Wood opened his private security firm Blacklight Intelligence in
Europe/Russia : GU extends agent recruitment drive to Scandinavia, Balkans
After launching a bot on the Telegram messaging service in January to help recruit sources and field agents in Eastern
Israel/Qatar : Israel questions future of business ties with Doha
Earlier this month in Tel Aviv, in a scene depicted to Intelligence Online which offers an illustration of the growing
Japan/United Kingdom/United States : Ex-NSA boss advises Five Eyes cyber relay in Japan, Nihon Cyber Defence
Nihon Cyber Defence (NCD), a Japanese-British cyber consultancy that liaises between London and Tokyo's cyber circles, brought on board Michael
Russia/Ukraine : Kyiv's elite Shaman battalion waging a secret war against Moscow
The Shaman unit spearheading the clandestine operations of Kirilo Budanov's Ukrainian Military Intelligence (GUR) is waging a shadow war in the heart of Russia, carrying out infiltration and reco...
France : Amarante hires Arnaud Dessenne to challenge Erys Group
Arnaud Dessene, the founder and former head of security firm Erys Group, has joined its competitor, Amarante International, as strategic
United Kingdom : Toro Risk Solutions, the UK financial watchdog's trusted cybersecurity firm
Toro Risk Solutions, which works in the fields of cybersecurity and cyber threat intelligence (CTI), has clinched a two-year, £600,000
Azerbaijan/France/Turkey : Ankara's French 'spy ring' accusations are pressure tactics, say sources
The Turkish intelligence service MIT's busting of an alleged French spy ring in Turkey during the last few months was
Ukraine/United Kingdom : Kyiv's strategic communications veterans join forces
Hard at work alerting Kyiv to security flaws linked to the use of Chinese surveillance tech, which are of particular
United States : Pentagon brushes off US agency warnings on intelligence oversight
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has no plans to review its intelligence agencies' auditing mechanisms, despite the Government Accountability
France : France's DGRIS international relations directorate audited as it revamps think tank
France's court of auditors will publish a report on the defence ministry's Direction Générale des Relations Internationales et de la Stratégie
France/Saudi Arabia : French AlUla agency under internal scrutiny following corruption probe on Saudi side
The audit of the French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula), the body created by a French-Saudi agreement to help develop
Russia/Ukraine : Ukrainian military intelligence dissects Russian Zala Lancet-3 drone
Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) specialists have been dissecting a Russian Zala Lancet-3 drone found in perfect condition on the front
France/Indonesia : French defence industry keen on new president's deals
Once the election results have been validated next month, Indonesia's next president Prabowo Subianto, who was elected in the first round on 14 February with almost 58% of the vote, should press ...
Hungary/Sweden : Saab agrees to defence cooperation as part of new Gripen aircraft deal
On Friday 23 February, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán announced that the government was buying four additional JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft from Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab, catc...
Ukraine : Ukraine's Flightmind AI develops algorithms to combat Russian jamming
Ukrainian start-up Flightmind AI is currently testing an artificial intelligence algorithm designed to enable Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drones to
France : French anti-corruption agency defends its use of compliance investigators
During the parliamentary debate of 1 February on a bill to provide a framework for the use of consultancy firms,
China/France/Italy : Beijing looks to France after Italy setback
The face-to-face meetings between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Paris and then at the
Hungary : Hungary's general staff worried about upcoming deployment to Chad
Vast supplies of body bags, obtained via classified invitations to tender, are being ordered for the Hungarian armed forces before
Belarus/Pakistan/United States : Fate of Minsk's ex-Spetsnaz officers, Imran Khan's defence, Hamas financing
Belarus - PTSD rife among freed ex-Spetsnaz officersDozens of former Belarusian Spetsnaz (special forces) officers who were arrested during the
France : France's new DGSE foreign intelligence boss takes keen interest in Africa
This first visit was no coincidence. Nicolas Lerner, the new director general of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE, IO, 19/12/23), went to meet the team at the Africa mi...
United States : Former KGB agent and Ukrainian economist gave FBI information on Hunter Biden
After the high-profile arrest of a Russian intelligence-linked FBI source who attempted to interfere in the upcoming US presidential election,
Azerbaijan/France : DGSI strives to uncover Azerbaijan's opposition intimidation network
After France and Azerbaijan's tit-for-tat expulsions of each other's diplomats in late December (IO, 11/01/24), the French intelligence services have
Vietnam : Hullabaloo around Vietnamese catwalk diplomacy
Hanoi is experiencing a minor diplomatic headache in its bid to win the support of Western countries for the recognition
China : China to stockpile industrial-use gas from Kazakh border
China is making unprecedented efforts to increase its industrial-use bottled gas stocks ahead of the 2024-2025 winter. That gas is
Ukraine/United Kingdom : London helping Kyiv reduce dependence on Chinese drone tech
Security specialists at the British embassy in Kyiv have recently been busy promoting secure data link solutions for first-person view
Europe/United States : US Navy's Scott W. Bray is NATO's new Asia-focused intel chief
NATO's new spymaster Scott W. Bray quietly took up his job as assistant secretary general for intelligence and security in
United States : Shed a tear for the gentlemen-only Alibi Club, a now shuttered sanctuary for the cream of Washington society
For more than a century, a brick rowhouse at 1806 I Street NW in downtown Washington was home to the Alibi Club,
France : France strives to resolve cyber intelligence recruitment challenges
The French government is still looking for ways to retain the best cyber engineers in the ranks of government agencies
Europe/Montenegro : Montenegro pursues charm offensive with Brussels over EU membership
In an effort to convince the European Union to accept its application for membership, the authorities in Podgorica are using
United States : Republican organisations shelling out to little known California consulting firm
Pluvious Group, a Los Angeles-based consultancy, has collected nearly $700,000 so far during the 2024 election cycle, according to campaign
Israel/United States : GEOINT transfer season, Yahal Zilka invested in Toka, John Finbarr Fleming at Paragon
Washington - Global GEOINT musical chairsWilliam McCombe, the former chief financial officer (CFO) of Earth observation specialist Maxar, is leaving
UAE : International OSINT players turn out in force in Dubai
The open source intelligence (OSINT) world was very much present at the ISS World intelligence business trade fair, which took
France : Justice ministry upgrades interceptions platform
The French defence electronic communications commission (CCED) is working with over-the-top (OTT) media service operators to find a way to unlock those services from the stalemate the national le...
Bulgaria/Europe/United States : Race for Lukoil refinery: Bulgarian oil firm at the centre of information wars
While several sources have told Intelligence Online that Bulgarian company Insa Oil recently received a €100m loan from the International
United Kingdom : Law firm Schillings poaches from C & F Partners to expand investigations team
Reputational defence firm Schillings, which was founded by lawyer Keith Schilling, is busy building up its investigations team, as it
Russia : Moscow steps up against Kyiv's 'Army of Drones'
Moscow on 13 February started deploying and testing the new version of its Orlan-30B tactical electronic warfare drone, with the
Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Control Risks Ukraine, Arcanum, Horizon Engage, Schillings
Kyiv - Control Risks looks to expand in UkraineBritain's Control Risks Group (CRG) is currently beefing up its presence in
France/Ukraine : Avisa co-founder Arnaud Dassier's tribulations in Ukraine
Arnaud Dassier, co-founder of the corporate intelligence and influence firm Avisa Partners with Matthieu Creux was not expecting to draw
Belarus : KGB extends control over ideological dissent as election frenzy builds
In the build-up to the parliamentary election on Sunday (IO, 19/02/24), the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR) has seen
Ukraine : Kyiv acts to regulate booming defence industry
With the creation of the Industrial and Defence Committee, a temporary consultative body, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's cabinet is attempting
Bahrain/United Kingdom : Manama Dialogue: Salman bin Hamad takeover would trim UK influence in Bahrain
While the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is still scheduled to run the IISS Manama Dialogue from 6 to 8 December at the Ritz-Carlton in Manama, Intelligence Online has learn...
China : Li Qiang, a prime minister in trouble
Beijing's political circles are abuzz with rumours as President Xi Jinping continues to hold back on the date of the
Europe/Poland/United States : Poland at the heart of NATO rapid reaction exercises
NATO launched in Poland a particularly notable annual exercise on 14 Feburary: Brilliant Jump 24, to prepare and assess the
Russia/Ukraine : Viktor Medvedchuk's business empire jostles for Luhansk mining resources with local barons
The self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), one of the two separatist oblasts of Ukraine, has signed a mining contract for
France : Race to take over Preligens, part 2: Thales and Safran covet the military intelligence firm's gems
The investment fund Tikehau Capital, a main shareholder in the imaging data processing firm Preligens, has been quick to issue
France/Saudi Arabia : French companies worried after arrest of Al-Ula Saudi mega-project boss
The French development agency for Al-Ula, Afalula, is trying to reassure companies involved in the project to develop tourism at the Nabataean site in northwestern Saudi Arabia, one of Mohammed b...
Ukraine/United Kingdom : Objective Ukraine, linking Kyiv's special forces with UK security providers
Retired British Army infantry officer Simon Woodiwiss is busy reorganising the London base of his security firm Objective Ukraine that
United States : NSA struggles to meet its staffing targets
The National Security Agency (NSA) professes satisfaction at having succeeded in attracting 2,400 new employees in 2023, making its recruitment
Asia/France : Publication of France's Indo-Pacific strategy postponed indefinitely
Publication of a document detailing France's strategy in the Indo-Pacific region has been postponed indefinitely, according to our information. The
France/Hungary : Orban's comms chiefs on fire duty, DGSE tr...to tell her story, Macron and Wang Yi hunt date for Paris trip
Hungary - Orban's communications advisers try to contain Fidesz revolt The scandal over the granting of a pardon to a man
United States : Black Ice AI pulls in ex-CIA officers to plug its AI tools
To sell its third party data analysis tools, Texan firm Black Ice AI, co-founded by Elisar Nurmagambetov (IO, 19/07/23), an
Germany/Saudi Arabia : Lürssen skirts German ban on arms exports to Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's company Middle East Maritime Repair (MEMR) has announced its imminent sale of 28m interceptor vessels to the ministry.
France : Race to take over Preligens, part one: French firm on verge of takeover following international struggles
The sale of Preligens, a French specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) applied to geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), follows several setbacks for
China : Wu Qing given intractable task of halting stock exchange slide
Intelligence Online has learned that the appointment of Wu Qing on 7 February as head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is the result of a reshuffle ordered by President Xi Jin...
Belarus : Lukashenko positions his securocrats in National People's Assembly
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is slowly but surely preparing the ground for his own transfer next year to the head
Iran/Turkey/United States : Law and investigation firms sea...Turkish-Iranian businessman at the centre of financial scandal
A hunt is under way for notorious Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab as part of a civil dispute brought by the
Saudi Arabia : Scopa out: behind the removal of Airbus's partner from Saudi Arabia's defence plans
"Where is Scopa?" was the question being asked as part of the extensive ad campaign that ran on the motorway
Moldova/Russia/Ukraine : War in Ukraine: Transnistria worried about security threat
The interior ministry of Transnistria, the separatist region in eastern Moldova controlled by pro-Moscow authorities, has warned of the extreme
Myanmar : Myanmar's opposition in exile aims to make allies on European tour
Zin Mar Aung, foreign minister of Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), the opposition in exile, has just begun a tour
Turkmenistan : Nazar Atagarayev inherits southern border instability at helm of KGB scion
Turkmen General Nazar Atagarayev has just marked his first year at the helm of the ministry of national security, the
France : Beijing soft power takes centre stage at French Senate restaurant
The restaurant, located in the heart of the Palais du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is the perfect
Ukraine : NATO intelligence sharing key to Ukraine drone strikes in Russia
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), Kirilo Budanov, is currently sending his drones to strike deep inside Russia every
Russia/Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis : Longtime Russian financier opens bank in secretive St. Kitts and Nevis
A longtime Russian financier with a history of involvement at troubled financial institutions, has opened a new bank in the
China/Philippines/Singapore/Vietnam : Chinese and Philippine experts clash over US bases in Manila
Participants in the maritime security conference held by Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in the city-state on
Qatar/United Kingdom : British defence aerospace makes Doha inroads
While the major prospecting continues with Saudi Arabia (IO, 02/02/24), British defence aerospace companies are also drumming up business with
Denmark/France/UAE/United States : Paris skips Danish cyber...le, Black River Systems integrates 5G, Preligens starts afresh
Copenhagen - France gives Danish cyber summit a missFrance nearly entirely snubbed the Danish Trade Council's Cybersecurity in Denmark forum
Turkey : Pars Defense, Turkey's zero-day champion
A report published on 6 February by Google's cyber intelligence Threat Analysis Group, put Turkish company Pars Defense alongside such
Israel : Offensive ADINT is Israeli cyber sector's new secret weapon
As Intelligence Online has already reported, Israeli company Patternz has joined the race to develop its ability to distribute spyware via online advertising (IO, 26/01/24).Cyber companies, parti...
Qatar/United States : Key contact for Blueprint Advisors in... to improve Qatar-US ties is colourful ex-New York congressman
A lobbying disclosure filing by Blueprint Advisors on 30 January showed the firm is seeking support for the government of Qatar
United States : How General Dynamics takes care of the House Armed Services Committee's chairman
A lobbying disclosure filing by General Dynamics last month and recent campaign finance reports reveal a close relationship between the defence giant
United Kingdom/United States : JS Held, Alaco, Control Risks, Hakluyt
New York - JS Held strengthens cyber investigations deptPatrick Westerhaus, a former agent in the FBI's cyber division, has joined
Belarus/France/Russia/Switzerland/Ukraine : Shadow war simmers as Russia targets French interests
The Russian strike that killed two French humanitarian workers near Kherson, south Ukraine, on 1 February, comes as a shadow
Bulgaria/United States : Race for Lukoil refinery: vegan beverage billionaire joins the competitors
US billionaire Michael Karsch has expressed interest in the Bulgarian refinery Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, owned by Russian giant Lukoil, but
France : Forward Global chair Creux on hunt for cash injection
Forward Global chairman Matthieu Creux has his work cut out this year. The corporate intelligence and influence group, formerly Avisa
United States : New Space observation veteran Sidus Space rises from the ashes thanks to AI
Recent advances made by Sidus Space have not escaped the attention of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which in early
Australia/China : China's Guoanbu keeps control in case of Australian spy who almost got away
Chinese President Xi Jinping has entrusted managing the repercussions of the Yang Hengjun espionage case to the ministry of state security (MSS, or Guoanbu). According to Intelligence Online sour...
New Zealand : Wellington uses Pacific foothold to show worth to Five Eyes allies
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) are clearly focused on expanding the country's
France/Russia/Ukraine : Macron's Ukraine trip delayed due to lack of Mirage 2000D news
Emmanuel Macron's trip to Ukraine, scheduled for 13 and 14 February, has been postponed to a later date.
East Europe/Russia : GU uses Wagner Belarusian false flag to recruit in Eastern Europe
The announcement appeared on a Telegram channel linked to the Wagner militia in late January and remained online for several
Turkey/Ukraine/United States : US consultancy Varyag prospecting in Kyiv for Turkish giant Kontrolmatik
The Washington-based strategy and public affairs consultancy Varyag Consulting Group, founded in 2023 by former CIA executive Glenn Corn, counts
France : French presidency struggles to find new role for former DGSE chief
There has been a flourish of exchanges at the presidential office over what should become of former diplomat Bernard Emie,
France/Indonesia : French companies show renewed interest in Nusantara
The French embassy in Indonesia is to organise a visit by a delegation of French companies to the site of
Africa/China/Russia/United States : Space intelligence programmes in Africa adapt to raging geopolitical storms
Despite needing them to help its war in Ukraine, the difficulties facing Russia's space-based Earth observation programmes (IO, 08/02/24) are
United States : Titanium war: key supplier to end Western defence sales
A letter sent by Howmet Aerospace to its main US defence customers in January is a potential bombshell, announcing that it will cease all sales of titanium 64-ELI components to its customers on 1...
Europe/Russia/United States : Russia's SVR delivers damning report on Europe's munition production capacity
Tasked with analysing the capabilities of the Euro-Atlantic military-industrial complex in the context of the war of attrition with Ukraine,
China/France/Russia/Tajikistan : Foreign interference in France, Russia's 201st base in Tajikistan, Beijing snubs Marseille
France: A draft bill to combat foreign interferenceOn 6 February, a draft bill aimed at preventing foreign interference in France
China/France : Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron speak on phone to cement their ties
A video message from French president Emmanuel Macron to his Chinese opposite number Xi Jinping to mark the 60th anniversary
United States : White House cyber chief struggles to find place in Washington's security ecosystem
At the hearing organised by the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on 31 January, the new director of
Oman/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Might Muscat buy Riyadh's used Typhoons?
According to several corroborating sources in Riyadh, London and Muscat, a delegation from the Saudi Ministry of Defence quietly visited
Ukraine : Tallinn Mechanism boosts Estonia cyber assistance to Ukraine
With the new Tallinn Mechanism, Estonia takes root in cyber-assistance in Ukraine. The Mechanism was created in December to coordinate
Azerbaijan/France/Israel : Mossad's aborted mediation of Paris-Baku spy scrap
Sources close to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad tell us that earlier this year the Foreign Intelligence Service of Azerbaijan, led by Gen. Orkhan Sultanov, asked if it would reach out to...
France/Ukraine : Kyiv forces Paris to confront Mirage 2000D issue
Ukrainian officials made France's delivery of Mirage 2000D fighter jets the only item on the agenda in a bid to prevent Paris avoiding the subject with talks on secondary issues.
Saudi Arabia/United States : Oliver Wyman provides nascent Saudi naval champion Sofon Industries with PR
Despite plans for its launch earlier this month, Sofon Holding, the parent company of Sofon Industries and Sofon Naval currently
Israel : Israeli defence chooses Palantir over home-grown solutions
By renewing its trust in US big data specialist Palantir last month, the Israeli defence ministry is snubbing solutions being
China : Chinese investment banks overwhelmed by heavy-handed instructions
The paralysis gripping China's financial institutions is worsening. They are being hammered with instructions from various branches of government that
France/Ukraine : Sokol Ukraine reboots as Lafayette Risk Intelligence
The security consultancy Lafayette Risk Intelligence is hoping to further extend its primacy in the private security component of France
France/Thailand/United States : The O.S.S. Bar in Bangkok, where the mystery of the Thai Silk King comes alive
The unresolved disappearance of Jim Thompson, an American businessman known as Bangkok's Silk King, almost 60 years ago to the
France : Thierry Matta, enduring chamberlain of France's DGSI
When Céline Berthon was appointed director general of France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, in December, she already knew who
Vietnam : Viettel chosen to build new Vinasat telecommunications satellite
In a demonstration of the "Make in Vietnam" policy championed by Information and Communications Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, the ministry
Bulgaria/Moldova/Russia : The small Bulgarian broker tied to Putin's inner circle and a $1bn bank fraud
Intercapital Markets, a little known Bulgarian brokerage company, has quietly operated as a home for companies with links to the
Europe/Moldova : The EU's discreet Moldovan anti-misappropriation hub
While the European Union (EU) has just renewed its commitments to Ukraine with a promise to reform the European Peace
Myanmar/Ukraine : How junta gets its anti-drones equipment from Kyiv
UK Logix Security International Co, owned by Kevin Nyo, the main business partner of Israeli cyber-consultant Doron Landau (IO, 04/01/24),
France/Israel/UAE/United States : Toka rebuilds in US, CPX ...forces with Obvious Technologies, Quindar attracts Space Force
Washington - Israeli firm Toka rebuilds US teamThe Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Toka is rebuilding its Washington office. The team was
Russia : New launches conceal Moscow's earth observation vulnerabilities
Following the launch of three military observation satellites in December and that of three others in the preceding 11 months, Russia's state-controlled media claimed that it had doubled its spac...
United States : Etherton, military and intel contractors' go-to lobby shop for defence dollars
Etherton and Associates, a boutique lobbying firm located just a short drive from CIA headquarter in McLean, Virginia, is handling sensitive
United Kingdom : Wanted: veteran investigators for lawyer Stephen Kay's Gaddafi asset hunt
A veteran defender of presidents before the International Criminal Court (ICC, IO, 17/04/23), the leading British lawyer Steven Kay has
UAE/United Kingdom/United States : Kolbe rejoins private sector, Raedas gets new office, TRAG's profits down
Washington - CIA veteran Paul Kolbe opens advisoryAfter a quiet two years as a lecturer for The Intelligence Project at
Dominican Republic/Haiti/United States : Former Human Rights Watch chief now polishing Dominican president's image
On 23 January, the Support Group for Refugees and Returnees in Port-au-Prince denounced the government of the neighbouring Dominican Republic for
United Kingdom : Burstock, a lair of seasoned diplomats on hand for North Macedonia's EU bid
Since opening his new firm Hurista Advisory in Edinburgh (IO, 21/11/23), Christoper Geidt, Baron Geidt, Queen Elizabeth II's former private
Hungary/Russia : Russian military intelligence notes Hungary's munition ambition
Tasked by the Kremlin and the National Security Council with carrying out an in-depth re-analysis of Western arms supply capabilities
France : LVMH picks new global security director
The French luxury giant LVMH is poised to reveal internally the name of its new global security director. The nominee will bring his police experience to the group's many security managers.
Italy : Justice ministry to hold intense talks over interception budget
Over the next few days, Italy's technical intelligence service providers will defend their interests before the Ministry of Justice in
France/Saudi Arabia : French embassy in Riyadh offers royal road to business diplomacy
"Towards the complicated East, I flew with simple ideas". Former diplomat François Gouyette will no doubt have General de Gaulle's famous maxim in mind when he shortly launches his company Pro O...
Bahrain : Bahrain spymaster Sheikh Nasser's sports business falters
Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa is unhappy with his investment in Paris FC. The Bahraini national security adviser explained to the
United States : Cyber specialists hunt for flaws in new 5G standalone access
Intelligence Online understands the small world of lawful interceptions is buzzing over a possible new data capture capacity related to
France : Former MEDEF head compiling Macron's economic security report from CNRLT offices
One after the other, prominent French business and security leaders have been heading to the offices of the National Intelligence and
Albania/United States : Ex-deputy PM hires US lobbyists as anti-corruption probe rolls on
The former Albanian minister of finance and former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj, who in early January was stripped of
East Europe/Russia : East European munitions factories back in sights of Russian military intelligence
Recently instructed by the Kremlin and the National Security Council to carry out an in-depth re-analysis of Western arms supply
France/Netherlands : Dutch subs: finalist Naval Group boosts bid with ESL & Network
The former French diplomat turned lobbyist Jean-David Levitte, who set up his business JDL Conseil in 2012, has been selected
United States : CIA plays down internal 'culture wars'
The CIA management team is staying calm for the time being about the growing number of reports about generational and cultural tensions at its Langley headquarters. It has no plans to change cour...
Myanmar/Switzerland : Swiss soft power reaches Myanmar's armed opposition
Switzerland maintains close contacts with the Burmese opposition. The DCAF (Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance), commissioned by the Swiss
Belarus/Poland/United States : Funding for Belarusian opposition media cut, a signal from US to Lukashenko
Alliances are shifting in Eastern Europe, where Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus has been increasingly at odds with Moscow in recent months
Israel/United States : Private security contractors Constellis and SOC on frontline to secure US facilities in Israel
With Israel's assault on Gaza nearly four months old and showing no signs of ending, two US private military contractors
Russia/Ukraine : SBU suspects surveillance camera images are being leaked to Russia
The Ukrainian domestic intelligence service (SBU) is investigating concerns that the Russian military intelligence, the GU (formerly GRU), may have
France/Ukraine : Hurdles remain for France's delivery of Mirage 2000Ds to Kyiv
Paris and Kyiv are making final preparations for Emmanuel Macron's visit in the middle of the month and trying to hammer out an agreement for France to supply Ukraine with its first ground-attack...
France : CDSE restructures with Cédric Lewandowski at the helm
It is not just another addition to his already full business card. Cédric Lewandowski is taking his appointment as chair
China/France/India/Kyrgyzstan/Lithuania/Poland/Russia : CIA... Bishkek, Paris, New Delhi and the Guoanbu, upgrades in Warsaw
United States - CIA Europe veteran opens own consultancyRalph Goff opened his own geopolitical risk analysis firm, GVG Consulting, in
Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Typhoons prepare Riyadh landing for World Defense Show
Defence giant BAE Systems is at last preparing to sign its major Typhoon supply contract with Saudi Arabia at the opening of the World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh.
Ukraine/United States : SOTA monitors risks to reassure foreign investors
Delegations from various American consultancies, including Tetra Tech, Marsh & McLennan and Oliver Wyman, have passed through the corridors of
Poland/Ukraine/United States : Warsaw's Panorama Sky Bar, a nightcap on the road to Kyiv
Located on the 40th floor of one of Warsaw's most imposing towerblocks, the Panorama Sky Bar lies at the heart
China/Iran/Russia/United States : Republican Foundation for...bies for more aggressive US approach on China, Iran and Russia
FDD Action, a Washington organisation which is affiliated with the influential right-wing think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), ramped up
Hungary : Ex-journalist anointed Hungarian spymaster in latest intelligence upheaval
Conservative editorialist Tamás Lánczi took up his job yesterday as head of the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty, the
Russia/Ukraine : Ukraine's new UJ-25 jammer drones clear way for retaliatory strikes against Russia
Kirilo Budanov's Ukrainian military intelligence service (GUR) is strengthening its retaliatory strike capabilities thanks to a new type of drone
United Kingdom : UK Foreign Office moves to tighten financial intelligence ties in the Caucasus
A delegation from the sanctions directorate of the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO, to which the Secret Intelligence
United States : Caribbean bank marketed itself to Russians using close ties to Dominican regulators
A little known bank on the island of Dominica, Paxum Bank, offered itself as a safe haven for Russian and
China/Russia/United States : Beijing purges, part 4: Guoanbu responds to US leaks in information war
The anti-corruption campaign that China's Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guoanbu) has been waging for months within the People's
United Kingdom : Total Security Protection increases its share of nuclear decommissioning market
As the programme for the construction of new generation nuclear power plants by French energy group EDF is running into
France : ADIT's takeover of Défense Conseil International leads to Sofema ownership change
The manoeuvring generated by ADIT's takeover of Défense Conseil International (DCI, IO, 25/01/24), an operating arm of the French armed
Italy/Saudi Arabia/United States : Naval war in Saudi Arabia, part 3: US and Italy well-placed for MbS naval megaproject
Sulaiman al-Babtain is going to see his diary fill up with foreign naval group representatives seeking to sign defence contracts
Israel/Italy/UAE/United States : Dataflow Security in Tel Aviv, Stevens to Babel Street, Germond leaves Asperiq
Tel Aviv: Italian zero-day researcher Dataflow Security into IsraelThe Italian zero-day seller Dataflow Security has opened up shop in Israel. In
Hungary : Hungarian Hiszem behind cybersecurity startup PCAutomotive
Automotive cybersecurity was the theme of the Pwn2Own 2024 ethical hacking contest in Tokyo on 24-26 January. The event, sponsored
Malta/Russia/Switzerland/UAE : Safe from sanctions, part 2: 'Patriotic' Russian MP Anikeyev's Maltese rear base
Russian MP Grigory Anikeyev, who has been under Western sanctions since 2022, transferred millions of US dollars from Swiss accounts to Dubai following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As Intelli...
Sweden/Turkey/United Kingdom : GMTL receives Finkelstein, S...s back to business in Turkey, Chorus lands new police contract
London - GMTL receives Daniel FinkelsteinLord Daniel Finkelstein, former editor-in-chief of British daily The Times and political adviser to the
Azerbaijan/United States : Azerbaijan forestalls US aid cutoff with help from BGR
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has contracted BGR Government Affairs to help win back political support in Washington which the country lost
Europe/Ukraine/United States : Scaled back NATO office remains active in Ukraine
NATO's permanent representation in Kyiv, which has several positions vacant, has not re-established itself in the Ukrainian capital where its
France/Saudi Arabia : Naval war in Saudi Arabia, part 2: French offensive begins for Mohammed bin Salman's naval project
Sulaiman Al Babtain, a former Saudi Aramco engineer with more than thirty years' experience at the firm, is now overseeing
Australia/France/India/Japan/United States : Space surveillance market boosted by arrival of Indo-Pacific operators
This week's planned launch by Canada's NorthStar of its first satellites, a few days after the announcement of a successful
Moldova/Russia : A Russian fixer's epic journey from post-Soviet Russia to a $1bn Moldovan investigation
Despite Western media attention on Russian fixers, the well-connected financier Mark Garber has largely escaped public scrutiny. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he continued to operate in the...
Ukraine/United States : Ukrainian oligarchs seek trade dispute support in Washington
The legal and reputational battle between the Ukrainian manufacturer of metal equipment for energy infrastructure Interpipe and its Pennsylvania-based counterpart
Poland/United States : Poland's liberal gun laws attract foreign private security contractors
American private security company Independent Security Advisors, which is run by its military veteran founder, Matthew Parker, is currently setting
UAE : Shake-up of market for zero-day vulnerabilities
Emirati zero-day reseller Crowdfense has begun its transformation with the arrival of Paolo Stagno, a researcher specialised in zero-day vulnerabilities
United Kingdom : British Foreign Affairs Committee hears from MENA experts in new inquiry
The UK's Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing from researchers and former diplomats as part of its new inquiry into the UK's engagement with the Middle East and North Africa.
United States : ODNI in no hurry to publicise China's human rights violations
Before the end of the month, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines is supposed to appoint a "coordinator for
Ukraine/United States : Anti-graft non-profit NAKO brings former CIA executive on board
The Ukrainian non-profit Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), which specialises in anti-corruption and defence issues, has the knack of bringing well-appointed
Saudi Arabia : Naval war in Saudi Arabia, part 1: Riyadh hangs sovereign naval industry hopes on Sofon Industries
Sulaiman Al Babtain will have a front-row seat alongside some of the world's leading defence industry barons at the second
China/Ukraine : Beijing woos Ukrainian drone specialists
As Intelligence Online was able to confirm during its recent trip to Ukraine, Zhao Li, the Chinese embassy's commercial attaché in the country, has been making contact over the past weeks with l...
France : Upheaval on the way at French security group Erys
Erys Group has once again fallen prey to internal tensions. Its announcement on 24 January that it was changing chairpersons
Taiwan : Third-placed Taiwan People's Party takes cautious route on China
The leader of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which grew its parliamentary base in the 13 January elections, is treading
France : Vinci and Airbus to build DGSE headquarters, Bouygues and Thales in pole position for DGSI
The construction of the future headquarters of French external intelligence agency, the DGSE, on the Fort Neuf de Vincennes military
France/Saudi Arabia/United States : ODAS embarks on legal battle with hardball player Zamil Group
By taking Saudi Arabia to court, the French military exports agency ODAS is exposing French interests to the ire of
Russia : More electronic warfare specialists join Russia's military-industrial commission
The mid-January update of the board of directors of the Russian inter-ministerial military-industrial commission, which implements the Kremlin's defence industry
Russia/Ukraine/United States : Kyiv's Washington envoy at heart of Russian information campaign
The upcoming cabinet reshuffle in Kyiv, as reported by Intelligence Online (IO, 16/10/23), could see Ukraine's ambassador to Washington and ex-finance minister Oksana Markarova appointed prime mi...
France/Iraq/Ukraine : Ex-diplomat André Parant to lead ADIT reconstruction drive in Ukraine
ADIT, the corporate intelligence and security group headed by Philipe Caduc, has tasked recently retired diplomat André Parant with setting up its new reconstruction support centre in Ukraine.
Belarus/China/France/Russia/Turkey/United Kingdom : Harris ...nds, MIT's loss, Chinese narrative in France, DGSE book launch
United Kingdom - Consultant Toby Harris steps away from NCAOn 14 January, Toby Harris, baron Harris of Haringey, the former
Yemen : Abdullah Yahya Al Hakim, the Houthis' external secret operations strategist
There has been no mention of Abdullah Yahya Al Hakim in any of the Houthis' statements since the recent spate
France/Switzerland : Jurassic path: in the treacherous footsteps of a DGSE agent turned by Beijing
A few months after first contact with his handlers from China's Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guanbu) in Thailand
UAE : Mohammed Somar Ajalyaqin, 'the luckiest dentist in Abu Dhabi' and Tahnoon bin Zayed's key adviser
"The luckiest dentist in Abu Dhabi," that is how Mohammed Somar Ajalyaqin is often described when his name crops up
Ukraine : SBU steps up battle against deserters
With the new year and the "last phase of the war," as President Volodymyr Zelensky put it (IO, 13/11/23), the
Israel : In midst of ramping up offensive cybertool development, Israel's Patternz taken to court
The Israeli business development firm Improvate The Future (ITF) filed a lawsuit in Tel Aviv on 18 January against an
United States : Little-known campaign treasurer Bradley Cra...et weapon for dozens of GOP candidates, including Donald Trump
In late November, 29-year-old Texan Brandon Gill, a former vice president at JP Morgan Private Bank announced he was running for a seat
France : ChapsVision integrates recently acquired Systran at breakneck speed
French big data analysis company ChapsVision's 100% acquisition of the automatic translation firm Systran was made official on 11 January
United States : Russian-linked cannabis company lobbies for banking reform
Curaleaf, the world's largest marijuana company, which has also been linked to oligarch Roman Abramovich, has hired several firms and
France/Qatar/Ukraine : ADIT maps big year ahead, from DCI takeover to Ukraine rebuild
ADIT is being very quiet about the final schedule for its takeover of Défense Conseil International (DCI), the former French
China/United States : Beijing purges, part 3: the Guoanbu tightens US embassy system
The never-ending purge within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is being extended internationally. The ministry of state security, the Guoanbu,
Cambodia/Vietnam : Vietnamese army conglomerate Viettel and Huawei compete in Cambodian fibre optic rollout
The latest invitations to tender issued by Vietnam's Viettel, seen by Intelligence Online, show that the defence ministry-owned telecommunications conglomerate
Israel/Italy/United States : Lumi Networks boosts its management, Boldend gets new CEO, bitCorp expands
Herzliya - Roy Geva Glasberg joins Lumi NetworksThe Israeli start-up Lumi Networks, founded in May 2023, has brought Roy Geva
United States : HR McMaster becomes top pick for corporate board posts after exiting the government
Biobot Analytics announced on 20 December that it had closed a deal to monitor the city of Laredo, Texas's wastewater for public health purposes. That was good news for Biobot and also for retire...
United Kingdom : FTI Consulting's stratcom team keeps an eye on beleaguered Boeing door panel supplier
The strategic communications service in the London offices of FTI Consulting is paying close attention to the US National Transportation
China/Taiwan : Taiwan's Academia Sinica told to keep its doors closed to Chinese researchers
The victory of the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te (aka William Lai) in the 13 January presidential elections (IO, 03/01/24)
United States : NRO heavyweight joins Stellar to boost interception satellite programmes
Former colonel Chad Davis has joined Stellar Solutions, a key aerospace engineering player founded by Celeste Ford that has contracts
Macedonia/United Kingdom : British MP with intelligence interests cements foothold in Balkan defence and energy
Mark Pritchard MP, who sat on the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) from 2020 to 2022, is expanding his contacts in the Balkans, adding his new job as consultant for ...
Australia/Saudi Arabia/United States : FBI/CIA veterans tea...oos AUKUS clients, K2 receives French help to launch in Riyadh
Boston - CIA and FBI veterans team up in MassachusettsFormer CIA chief of staff Richard Peristere has recently joined FBI
France/Saudi Arabia : France hopes its backing for Saudi Expo 2030 bid brings in big deals
France's plans to send a large business delegation to Riyadh in February could be undermined by Olivier Becht's uncertain future
China/United States : DNI postpones release of China corruption report, forestalling Beijing tensions
According to our sources, the release of an unclassified report on corruption by China's top leaders written by the Office
Switzerland : Federal spy agency undergoes revamp
Two years after his appointment as head of the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (SRC), diplomat Christian Dussey (IO, 24/03/23) is
Russia/UAE : Safe from sanctions, part 1: 'Patriotic' Russian MP Anikeyev stashes his millions in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates is turning into ultra-rich Russians' offshore haven of choice, increasingly attracting funds that would previously have
Vietnam : Winners and losers among agents in Vietnam's defence restructure
The Vietnamese defence company Zodiac Investment Corp is one of the losers in defence minister Phan Van Giang's ongoing reorganisation
Israel : Key Israeli cyber players bank on Interionet
Interionet's shareholders are quietly taking the reins of the Israeli cyber intelligence company. Two new administrators have just been appointed,
Saudi Arabia/United States : Jones Group brings US expertise to Saudi navy's reforms
Retired US Navy capital Winton Smith's arrival this month at Jones Group International (JGI) further anchors the US consultancy to the Saudi armed forces. Smith, who served with the US Navy inter...
United Kingdom : New setback for parliamentary oversight of intelligence
The British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) finally has a full complement of nine members again. On 15 January,
United States : Pentagon brings its geospatial intelligence operators back in line
The launch of Maxar Intelligence's first two WorldView Legion optical observation satellites is not listed in SpaceX's February launch manifest,
Azerbaijan/China/France/Iran/Russia : Russian contraband, Xi Jinping delays Paris trip, FATF worries Monaco
Russia/Iran/Azerbaijan: FSB foils contraband of Tor missile componentsThe Moscow court of appeal issued a ruling at the end of last
Iraq/United States : The 66 terabytes of documents on ISIS driving a wedge between UN and Baghdad
In a letter sent on 28 December to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, which Intelligence Online has been able to read,
China/Italy : China's United Front tests influence method in Italy
A delegation from China's United Front Work Department (UFWD), the body dedicated to influence operations abroad, is due in Italy
Belarus/Russia : Lukashenko strikes out at pro-Kremlin agent of influence
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is taking another stand against Russian interference, last week outlawing the Telegram channel of influential pro-Kremlin
Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : TAG International helps UK grow influence in Saudi national security
Under a contract shrouded in secrecy, TAG International, which advises governments on national security matters, is currently deploying military experts
United States : Blackwater's Prince set to advise Vantage intelligence
Like a royal marriage of international networks, Gretchen King's corporate intelligence firm Vantage Intelligence is about to announce the arrival of Erik Prince, the founder of private security ...
United States : In legal fight between FTI and fired executive, both sides keen to conceal confidential information
A court battle between FTI Consulting and an executive who was recently fired by the company has been slowed by requests
United States : Jeffrey Kruse, the Pentagon's trump card for speeding up DIA's transition to strategic competition
Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Kruse will be sworn in as the new director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on
UAE : Abu Dhabi's Em Sherif Sea Café, where Tahnoon bin Zayed's advisers polish his asset restructuring plans
In the cool of the UAE winter, when temperatures drop below 25°C, the café terraces of Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah
Bahrain/UAE : Emirati cyber makes push into Bahrain
Abu Dhabi is taking a close interest in Bahrain's cyber sector, with the Emirati Supreme Council investing heavily to position
United States : New details emerge in probe linked to Trump's social media firm
Federal prosecutors continue to probe a Florida venture capitalist who has already been arrested for alleged insider trading relating to
Russia : Russia's NAIIS, dormant cyber think-tank and sinecure for ex-spies
The National Association for International Information Security (NAIIS), or NAMIB in Russian, held its annual cybersecurity conference in Moscow on
United States : Nardello reports might emerge in Sotheby's trial
As Dmitry Rybolovlev's trial against Sotheby's for alleged art fraud gets underway, the Russian oligarch's long-running dispute with Swiss art
United States : Corporate intelligence firm Arcanum hires lobbyist for defence issues
The secretive intelligence firm Arcanum Global has hired Christopher Del Beccaro, the former Chief of Staff for Texas Representative Michael
France/Russia/Ukraine/United States : McMahon to NightDrago...ech team, new Russian electronic warfare system heads to front
San Francisco: McMahon joins cyber-focused fund NightDragonNightDragon, an investment fund specialised in cyber intelligence technology, has a new adviser. Heather
France/Sweden : Swedish defence industry sets advisers to work on bilateral prospects before Macron visit
Originally scheduled for last October (IO, 02/10/23), French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Sweden will now take place on
Russia : Russian GPS jammer Tobol worries Western forces in Baltic area
The Russian aerospace jamming and interception (SIGINT) station in Pionersky, in the enclave of Kaliningrad, has been a hive of activity of late, producing an electromagnetic uptick that has attr...
China/Germany : Germany letting Huawei distribute 'secure' messaging platforms
It is easy to download the BundesMessenger application, described as a "secure messaging platform for public administration" that is notably
Canada/France : French diplomat Marjorie Vanbaelinghem to land in New Brunswick after Irsem ousting
Marjorie Vanbaelinghem, the former director of the French armed forces think-tank Irsem, is to be appointed consul general in Moncton, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, Intelligence Onli...
UAE/United Kingdom : Templar Executives, Zenobia, Michael Lynch
London - Templar Executives' double lossInvestigation and cybersecurity advisory Templar Executives saw two of its directors leave at the end
United States : Trump Super PAC doles out payments to mysterious shell companies
Donald Trump's Super PAC for his 2024 presidential campaign has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to two mysterious shell
United States : Strange foreign lobbying registration exposes FARA vulnerabilities
The denial by the Rwanda National Police (RNP) on 6 January that it had retained a cybersecurity practitioner to advocate for it,
France : Fake spies: how Renault distanced French intelligence for fear of China
The trial opening this Wednesday of former Renault employees and consultants accused of orchestrating an intelligence swindle illustrates how relations
UAE : From Yemen conflict to strategic Abu Dhabi fund, Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed's ascent owes nothing to chance
Although he sometimes still walks with crutches, Prince Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan is rising nimbly through Abu Dhabi's
Bahrain : Bahrain's cybersecurity agency seeks new training partners
Bahrain's National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) is investing heavily to increase its capabilities. Until now, the NCSC has struggled to
Russia/United Kingdom : Monitoring Russia's 'enablers' in the West: are private investigators next?
The news that British private investigator Andrew Wordsworth had been detained and questioned for several hours after getting off a plane in Bristol sent shockwaves through the close-knit communi...
Russia/Serbia/Ukraine : Serbian recruits in Luhansk rebel amid intra-elite election competition
Russia's use of Serbian troops on the Ukrainian front is encountering obstacles. The Serbian recruits of the Volk unit deployed
France/Saudi Arabia : French arms export body ODAS still sidelined in Saudi Arabia despite reshuffle
At the close of its ordinary general meeting on 21 December, ODAS, the French organisation that deals with French defence
United Kingdom : Private sector very fond of ex-Downing Street defence advisers
By officially taking up his post on 1 January as chairman of Rolls-Royce SMR - a nuclear energy research consortium
Cambodia/France : Anti-corruption wars: Cambodian military top brass behind attempts to take over Victoria Angkor hotel
Intelligence Online has learned that the Cambodian military officer who is trying to get his hands on the luxury Victoria
Poland/Ukraine : Polish drone maker AP-Flyer boosts Kyiv's airborne intelligence capabilities
Polish drone manufacturer AP-Flyer is set to deliver its first batch of Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) drones to the
China/Saudi Arabia/UAE : How Beijing is plugging into space industry in Gulf states
The US House of Representatives' Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on 10 January officially asked the Department of Commerce to impose sanctions on the Emirati parastatal artificial...
France/Iraq/Saudi Arabia/Ukraine : Amarante's revenues top record €60m
France's Amarante International, headed by Alexandre Hollander, has registered revenues of more than €60m for the year ending 31 December
Israel/United States : Confidential intel report shows US was concerned attorney Dershowitz had Mossad ties
Ties between the Mossad and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who the Israeli government was reportedly considering retaining to defend the country against
Russia/Ukraine : Russian Senate drives efforts to annex occupied Ukrainian territories
The discreet Council for the Legal and Socio-Economic Integration of the Reunified Territories set up last 25 September has become
France : Israel's war bill and tacit agreement with Hezbollah, ex-DGSE officer at Elysée, Erdogan and Macron vs Signal
Israel: The latest war costs estimatedAccording to sources within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), at least 8,000 members of Hamas and the Palestinian
Cambodia/France : Cambodia's PM to talk airports, Indo-Pacific relations and Francophonie on French visit
A deal on Vinci Airports' participation in Phnom Penh's new Techo-Ta Khmau Airport will be sealed when Cambodia's Prime Minister
United Kingdom : British high-speed rail company arms itself against opponents
Following the British government's announcement that it was cancelling plans to take the new high-speed rail line to northern England,
Russia/Spain : Russian zero-day exploit researchers prosper in Barcelona
Catalonia, particularly the region's capital Barcelona, has recently seen an influx of Russian cyber experts, many of whom have come
China/United States : US and China in low-Earth orbit geospatial intelligence battle
The contract awarded by the US geospatial intelligence agency, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), on 5 December to Albedo confirmed the Californian company's position as the US defence pro...
United States : New Ukrainian non-profit seeks to cultivate ties in Washington
A new pro-Ukrainian non-profit group is seeking to cultivate ties in Washington and abroad, in order to expand the scope
Israel/Russia : Andrey Davidovich, opening doors for cyber consultants from Tel Aviv to Moscow
Consultant Andrey Davidovich is closely monitoring the bill drafted by the upper house of Russia's parliament, the Federation Council, to
Mauritius/United Kingdom/United States : McLarty Inbound making Mauritius's claim for control of 'vital' military base
With the UK continuing to defy a United Nations vote and court rulings recognising Mauritius's claim of sovereignty over territory
Timor-Leste : Longuinhos Monteiro, the lawyer tasked with beefing up East Timor's intelligence services
The head of East Timor's National Intelligence Service (SNI), Longuinhos Monteiro, is facing major challenges since taking up the job
United States : At the 116 Club in Washington, lawmakers and lobbyists wine, dine and discuss political and social affairs
Forbes Tate founding partner Dan Tate Jr. appeared on The Hill's list of top lobbyists for the fifteenth consecutive year on 6
China : Mystery Chinese space objects intrigue Washington
Beijing launched its Shenlong (Divine Dragon) spaceplane in late December for the third time since it came into service, sending
Ukraine/United States : Analygence boosts USAID's soft power in Ukraine
The latest USAID Request for information (RFI) Special Notice in Ukraine calls for interested parties to provide feedback on the
United States : Private companies on hiring spree for government contracts to guard and expel migrants
A pair of private military firms are hiring ex-law enforcement agents and combat veterans to help the government guard asylum
Israel : Septier gets into rapidly expanding Wi-Fi catcher market
The Israeli IMSI-catcher firm Septier Communication has recently ventured into the rapidly expanding Wi-Fi catcher market. With 5G, some calls
Spain/UAE/United States : Mollitiam gets new CEO, Paolo Stagno joins Crowdfense, Whooster assists US Secret Service
Toledo - Santiago Molins Riera takes helm at Mollitiam IndustriesSpain's Mollitiam Industries has a new boss. Santiago Molins Riera was
Azerbaijan/France : DGSE Baku post taken down by State Security Service
"Can I speak to Mr X?" At the switchboard of the French embassy in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, the male voice hesitated before replying, "He no longer works here". A similar question regarding an...
France/Middle East : Macron's rollercoaster Middle East diplomacy
Emmanuel Macron's Middle East agenda looks set to be a busy one in 2024. While a new diplomatic adviser is
North Korea/Russia : Russia planning for half a million North Koreans to replace Muslim construction workers
The Russian government is working behind the scenes to bring 500,000 North Koreans to work in its regional construction sector,
Germany/Ukraine : Private security 'label' Global.AG strengthens its foothold in Ukraine
Global.AG Security & Communication is something of a UFO among the other Western organisations, whether NGOs, private security firms, or religious networks, deployed in Ukraine. The firm, which d...
United Kingdom/United States : CT Group, Zeichner Risk Analytics, Mintz Group
London - CT Group changes CEOJust a few weeks after having feted the arrival of ex-British special forces chief Mark
Israel/United States : Brinc drones take on the 'Gaza metro'
Blake Resnick US company Brinc delivered around a hundred Lemur-2 drones to the Israeli army in mid-December, which will according
United Kingdom : Corporate intelligence firm Audere struggles to beef up private security arm
Audere Group, which now includes the private investigation firm Audere International and the division dedicated to security Audere Securus International,
United States : Supreme Court asked to guarantee federal powers in fight against disinformation
At the start of a major election year in the United States, the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on
Russia/UAE : Former Alpha Group exec rewarded by the Kremlin launches asset tracking business from Dubai
Andrey Elinson's achievements as an asset manager have been rewarded by the Russian state: on 21 December, the consultant was
China/United States : Beijing purges, part 2: Xi enlists Chinese citizens against espionage, foreign interference
The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs gave Chinese President Xi Jinping the opportunity to stress the theme
Russia/United States : FSB contractor maintains links with US tech company
As Western governments seek to crack down on companies doing business with Russia, one tech company with entities in the
France/Ukraine : Forum InCyber takes on lead role in Ukrainian cyber cooperation
The French organisers of Forum Incyber (ex-Forum International de la Cybersécurité, FIC), led by Guillaume Tissier, have been given the
France/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : London overtakes Paris in race to equip Riyadh with fighter jets
Berlin's announcement on 7 January that it was lifting an embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia given Riyadh's support to Israel, has given German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock an opening to...
Bosnia/Serbia/United States : Congressman Robert Aderholt, the Bosnian Serb lobbyists' friend in Washington
The Bosnian Serb Republic, a secessionist entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina (IO, 18/01/23), launched a new charm offensive in the United States
China/France/Russia/United Kingdom : Russian dissident in t...lle, foreign investment in France, Russian intelligence review
United Kingdom - Russian dissident to attend parliamentary hearingFormer Russian State Duma member, businessman and political activist Ilya Ponomarev, who
France : Legal interceptions: French justice ministry pays to use DGSE interception tools
The €2m allocation represents a tiny fraction of the overall €1.1bn budget of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure
North Korea/Russia/Ukraine : North Korean labourers dispatched to rebuild Donbas
Teams of North Korean workers, whose recruitment by Russia was first reported by Intelligence Online (IO, 30/06/23), are being deployed
Russia/Ukraine/United States : Intelligence war against Moscow's Ukraine strikes
Despite Russia stepping up its strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, Kyiv has so far managed to maintain a high
China/United States : Beijing purges, part 1: Qin Gang affair triggers diaspora distrust
The news revealed by Intelligence Online (IO, 23/08/23) was confirmed at the end of December, that Russian intelligence did indeed tell Xi Jinping's people in June-July that former Chinese foreig...
Ukraine : Kyiv in search of SAR imagery for winter
Amid Russia's winter counter-offensive around the Adviivka pocket and as it seeks to deploy all available means to maintain its
United States : Joe Biden impeachment inquiry may rope in Giuliani and friends
As US House Republicans conduct an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine, they may find themselves again and again encountering the ...
France/Kurdistan/Syria : Ruling validates DGSI's radical left analysis
The French domestic intelligence service, the DGSI, has so far come out unscathed from a trial of a former fighter
Russia : Critical technologies: the big winners in 'patriotic' anti-sanctions measures
Media and events group ComNews is preparing its staff for a second consecutive year of unexpected growth, which is being driven
Israel/United States : Former aide to US Senator Schumer assisting billionaire-funded pro-Israel media blitz
As Israel's assault on Gaza continues, a group of Wall Street, tech and Hollywood billionaires have launched a lavishly funded
United States : FBI's failure to probe elected officials alleged to have taken tainted Russian cash sparks internal dissent
Intelligence Online has learned that a number of FBI counterintelligence agents are frustrated by the Bureau's failure to take action
Israel : Is zero-click spyware really the ultimate cyber-intelligence solution?
The war between Israel and Hamas - and particularly the Hamas attack that sparked the conflict on 7 October -
Israel/Myanmar : Cyber consultant Doron Landau at core of Israeli networks in Myanmar
In a civil war-torn country like Myanmar, cyber technology holds obvious appeal for the military authorities. Israeli companies in the sector are among Myanmar's longest-standing partners. For a ...
Germany : Private security firms face parliamentary scrutiny
The German parliament is once again examining the role played by several private security companies registered in Germany. In early
Belarus : Lukashenko attempts to shore up position with security reshuffle
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is preparing the ground for the possible release of Andrei Vtyurin, the head of his presidential
China/Taiwan : Beijing propaganda seeks to end use of word 'president' for Taiwanese leader
Beijing's bid to exert control also extends to words, and the "rebel province" of Taiwan, a prime target of Chinese
Japan/Singapore/South Korea : Interception specialists turn focus to Far East 5G SA rollout
Lawful Interception, or LI, firms are focusing their attentions on Asia to develop interception technologies adapted to emerging telecoms standards. Since 2021, a number of Asian companies have b...
France/Moldova/Romania : Paris seeks to recover lost influence in Romanian-speaking region
Colonel Florence Skrlj's recent nomination as defence attaché to the French embassy in Chisinau, headed by ambassador Graham Paul, points
France/Russia : Intelligence 'notes blanches', a black box of visa refusals for Russian nationals
Officially, he works in "journalism". That is the only profession given. The Nantes administrative court decision of 25 September did
China : Chinese investment bank analysts ordered to toe party line
The proliferation of internal meetings called by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the instructions it has issued are beginning to severely strain, if not paralyse, the functioning of some of...
France : A round-up of French fiction and non-fiction spy books
As 2023 draws to a close, an analysis of the figures from Edistat, a website that provides weekly estimates of
France/Russia : Handful of French business consultants hang on in Moscow
The accumulation of Western sanctions on Russian companies and the Kremlin's toughening of rules for firms that want to exit
India/United Kingdom/United States : Mittal v Gupta: Alaco dives into India's steel wars
Amy Lashinsky and Ambrose Carey's corporate intelligence firm Alaco is hard at work for ArcelorMittal. The steel giant is in a race against time to recover more than €140m from its faltering In...
Poland : CGDP psyops unit wages information war for Warsaw
The Central Group for Psychological Operations (CGDP), Poland's psyops (or sajopsi in Polish) unit, in November took up the torch
Uzbekistan : Business and security heads jostle for top spots in influential sports federations
The announcement in mid-December that Salim Abduvaliev had been remanded in custody, a few days after his arrest by Tashkent
United States : Congress examines bill to strengthen DNI and break down silos in intelligence
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) is looking to strengthen the powers of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to boost staff mobility in the intel...
China/United States : China plays dumb over satellite data pilfering
In the murky game of satellite data interception, Beijing has shown itself to be the most adept at keeping a tight lid on its real capabilities. So far, no other state has directly accused China ...
Iraq/United States : International lawfare: London and Washington try to save UN Daesh investigation team
The United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh (UNITAD) is due to wind up its
Azerbaijan/United States : Caspian Sea: reconstruction of Nagorno-Karabakh attracts Western interest
The reconstruction of Nagorno-Karabakh is drawing in foreign consultants and business diplomats, particularly from the United States, who are hoping
Israel : Sovereignty industries look to foreign volunteers to fill gaps left by Israeli reservists
As the war persists between Israel and Hamas, the country's army is increasingly mobilising Israeli reservists employed in the private
Israel/Saudi Arabia : Israel and Saudi Arabia in intense discussions over Houthi Red Sea attacks
Saudi Arabia has not officially joined Operation Prosperity Guardian, the US-led maritime security initiative in the Red Sea. However, Intelligence
Africa/China/Russia : Did Russian paramilitaries vandalise Niger memorial to 1989 terror attack victims?
The discovery last month that a memorial in Niger's Ténéré desert - where a UTA Airways DC 10 crashed in 1989 after a suitcase bomb exploded on the orders of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi...
Russia/United States : Rossiya Segodnya shell companies continue to operate in US
Ghebi production studio, the long-serving US partner of Rossiya Segodnya, parent company to the Russia news network RT (IO, 26/01/22),
China/Europe/Turkey/United States : Intelligence Online's spyware gift list for the holidays
Whether looking for the perfect end-of-year gift for an intelligence fan, a security buff, a military enthusiast or a keen
Turkey/United States : Turkey gets help from The Van Aucker Group in promoting its legislative agenda in Washington
The Van Aucker Group (TVAG) has been working Capitol Hill on behalf of the embassy of Turkey, a lobby disclosure
Italy : Sant'Egidio, gathering informal intelligence for God and world peace
The Community of Sant'Egidio is putting the finishing touches to its traditional Christmas lunch, a meal shared on Christmas day
Germany/Ukraine : Berlin-based NGO funded by German government wants to buy drones for Ukraine
Dekabristen, a Berlin-registered humanitarian and civil society association, is raising funds to buy drones for Ukraine, as do the Ukrainian
UAE : Made-in-UAE semiconductors goal in Omar Al Olama's hands
Omar bin Sultan Al Olama has his work cut out for him. According to our information, the UAE minister of
Russia/Ukraine : NATO monitors reinforcement of Moscow defences
The Kremlin is reinforcing the electronic warfare capabilities of its ground-to-air defence apparatus, the "Moscow Belt" to protect Moscow from
France : French foreign ministry to set up 24/7 disinformation watch
The French government is developing its multi-level disinformation watch and counterspeech capacities (IO, 27/10/22). The press and communication directorate (DCP)
Bulgaria/Kazakhstan/Russia : KazMunayGas enters race for Lukoil refinery in Bulgaria
Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) has entered the crowded field of companies that have expressed interest in
Israel : Rami Ben Efraim adds Planet Nine to growing cyber empire
Despite the Israel-Hamas war, retired Israeli Army General Rami Ben Efraim is pursuing the development of his cyber empire. His
United States : Legal interceptions specialist SS8 looks for defence industry buyer
American legal interceptions company SS8 has been for some time looking for a buyer among the leading defence groups, according
France/United States : Willis to Touchstone, Hazard at Framatome's cyber subsidiaries, Drone XTR's DSNA deal
Washington: Patrick Willis joins Touchstone FuturesUS firm Touchstone Futures continues to grow its teams with technical intelligence industry veterans. The
Afghanistan/China : Academic review serves as cover for CCP investment in Afghanistan
Intelligence Online has learned that a new Chinese review, Afghanistan Studies, is, in fact, a commercial public relations operation backed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Behind it is the ...
United States : Bosnian media tycoon hires US lobbyists to fight criminal charges
Bosnian tycoon Mujo Selimovic has begun a lobbying campaign in Washington, DC as he attempts to combat criminal charges in
United States : Dark Circuit Labs looks for vulnerabilities for Lockheed Martin
US cyber company Dark Circuit Labs (DCL) is continuing to develop despite having had to deal with an internal commercial
Hong Kong/Japan/Singapore : Private sleuths hover between Tokyo and Singapore for APAC regional base
Several corporate investigation firms are busy restructuring as the new year approaches. As we understand, the US firm Nardello &
United Kingdom : CT Group asked to prove documents used in family trust dispute are authentic
The decision of the High Court of Justice in London was keenly awaited by former Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Poland/United Kingdom/United States : WestExec, Elicius, FCDO security in Warsaw, G3
London - Elicius Intelligence expandsDiscreet London investigation firm Elicius Intelligence has recently made a number of recruitments to bolster its
China : Soft Power, part 2: Guoanbu's three-pronged strategy in Europe
The Chinese Ministry of State Security's (MSS, or Guoanbu) new soft power strategy has the European continent in its line
United States : Federal contractor whose CEO defrauded the NSA had won other contracts
A federal contractor whose CEO was convicted of defrauding the National Security Agency (NSA), as related in a December 7 report
UAE/United States : After state secrets, spymasters Mike Pompeo and Tahnoon bin Zayed linked by lucrative deal
The deal is expected to be finalised in January. As Intelligence Online understands, talks have intensified in recent weeks between former US Secretary of State and ex-CIA chief Mike Pompeo, now ...
France : Emmanuel Macron picks internal intelligence chief to helm DGSE
Intelligence Online has learned that French President Emmanuel Macron has - barring a last-minute change - selected Nicolas Lerner to
Iraq/United States : International lawfare: clock ticking for UN team investigating IS crimes in Iraq
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has one month left to submit his recommendations on the transfer of evidence collected
Asia/France/Middle East : Marie-Laure Bourgeois on discreet mission to turn Naval Group's exports around
Since her arrival at Naval Group on 1 December 2022, Marie-Laure Bourgeois, executive vice president in charge of sales and
United Kingdom : Stuart Peach keeps an eye on Balkans for NATO's suppliers
The British government's special envoy to the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, is keeping a close eye on prospecting there by
France : French armament agency to boost drone anti-jamming capacities
According to our information, the French armament directorate, or DGA, will call on Skydrone Robotics to help with its DEDALE
China/United States : Despite slight thaw with China, US am...igence publicising strategy with report on top Chinese leaders
The US intelligence community is putting the finishing touches to an unclassified version of a report on corruption by leading figures in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Intelligence Online un...
Ukraine/United Kingdom : Creditors take case against Port of Odessa stevedoring groups to Ukraine Supreme Court
Innovatus Capital Partners and Argentem Creek Partners, two US investment companies specialising in high-risk assets, are determined to take forward
France/Philippines : France's DCI in Naval Group bust up over Philippines submarine project
The French commercial strategy to get Manila to accept Naval Group's submarine offer now consists of trying to capitalise on
Russia/Ukraine/United States : Ex-Blackwater trains pro-Kyiv Russian volunteers
The "Freedom of Russia" Legion paramilitary unit of Russian volunteers opposed to the war in Ukraine (IO, 07/12/23) has received
China/France/Ukraine : DGSI number crunch, asset hunt in Kyiv, anti-disinformation in China, DGSE succession
France - French intelligence reports 92 external lawfare cases since 2020The United States represent half the 92 cases of lawfare
France/Singapore : French defence ministry ponders Singapore support unit
The creation of a South East Asia naval facility in Singapore is back on the cards for the French defence ministry's
Russia : Wagner network selling foreign fighters in Moscow region
The Russian black market in fighters for Ukraine continues to evolve, with several hundred Yemeni, Lebanese, Syrian and some Nepalese
United States/Uzbekistan : Uzbekistan's intense lobbying of the US defence industry
Shavkat Mirziyoyev's government is doing its utmost to improve military-industrial relations with the United States and is working with third-party
Germany/Ukraine : Ex-President Poroshenko forks out for Kyiv's electronic warfare
Intelligence Online understands that the former president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is personally financing the purchase of electronic warfare equipment
France/United States : US Nemesis programme spies on French military satellite
The Franco-Italian military communications satellite Athena-Fidus, developed by Thales Alenia Space, has been the target of a "snooping" mission since mid-November by the US signals intelligence ...
China : Soft power: Beijing tries a more personal touch abroad
A diplomatic shift is underway in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): over the past few months, its directives have increasingly
France/Saudi Arabia : Former French utilities boss Henri Proglio back in Saudi nuclear
Henri Proglio is back in business. Only a week after lunching with the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in
Czech Republic : Czech email-spoofing site emerges in notorious hacking cases
Emkei, a discreet Czech website, allows users to send fake emails to any email address in the world while remaining
Vietnam : Vietnam's Phan Van Giang cleans up military intelligence
Vietnam's Defence Minister Phan Van Giang has in recent weeks been cleaning up his intelligence Directorate General No. 2 (DG2,
Belarus : Vladimir Kuprianyuk, a bureaucrat propelled to the top of military intelligence
Vladimir Kuprianyuk, 51, had his baptism of fire in the form of a meeting on 21 November with Belarusian President
United States : Unit 245: A brothel visited by politicians,...ary officers and intelligence operatives hiding in plain sight
The Avalon Mosaic is an upscale apartment complex in the quiet suburban town of Fairfax, Virginia, which sits about 15 miles
Israel : NSO Group veterans launch OSINT start-up IntelEye
The small open source intelligence (OSINT) firm IntelEye has quietly announced its presence by registering a LinkedIn profile. Maor Sellek
Ukraine/United States : Private diplomacy consultants campaign in US for Ukraine's economic security
Next Level Initiatives, a Dutch foundation established by former British diplomat Emma Le Mesurier, is financing a new US campaign
Germany : German budget crisis puts strain on intelligence recruitment
The decision by Germany's highest court to freeze a large part of the 2023 federal budget, after finding irregularities in
United States : SS8 gets an Algiers foothold
SS8, a US company specialising in legal interception, has won a contract with the Algerian interior ministry to supply geolocation
China/India : New Delhi joins deep sea war
New Delhi has decided to invest heavily in research to develop a data fusion interface for acoustic intelligence purposes as
France : DGSE worried about malware capacities after takeover of Risk & Co
The takeover of the cyber business of Risk & Co by Chapsvision (IO, 25/10/23), the group owned by Ecole Polytechnique graduate and serial entrepreneur Olivier Dellenbach, has raised questions at ...
Estonia/France/Netherlands/United States : Milrem Robotics'... vehicle, DGA-MI and Spectra data, Crimson Phoenix strengthens
Amsterdam: Milrem Robotics tests unmanned vehicle with Dutch armyMilrem Robotics is currently testing an unmanned ground vehicle with the Netherlands
France/UAE : Fresh failure for Key Technologies in France
Key Technologies, a small company founded in Abu Dhabi in 2019 by French businessman Ferit Bonfil (IO, 03/11/21), has faced
France : French anti-corruption agency wants to regain control of compliance programmes
The French anti-corruption agency, Agence Française Anticorruption (AFA), is considering the option of reincorporating the monitoring of compliance programmes implemented
Japan/Taiwan : Japan sends submarines to support Taiwan in East China Sea
The Taiwanese government is counting on building stronger ties with Japan on a tactical level, on top of the robust
China/Russia : Wolvesfleet and iFlight Technology use backdoor route to get supplies to Moscow
The Russian armed forces are currently making extensive use of interception (SIGINT) equipment supplied by UAE-based Chinese company Wolvesfleet, headed
Denmark/Ukraine/United States : Musical chairs at Mintz Gro... Poland, risk management in Ukraine, ex-FBI agent at StoneTurn
Washington/San Francisco - Mintz Group reshuffles management teamThe US consultancy Mintz Group founded by former journalist Jim Mintz (IO, 02/11/21)
United Kingdom : Top UK commando veterans beat path to private security sector
Mark Carleton-Smith's arrival at the strategy consultancy CT Group (formerly CTF Partners), which was approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) at the beginning of Decem...
Lithuania/Ukraine : Lithuania's Milasauskas brothers ramp up detonator production for Ukrainian drones
Ukraine is preparing to order a new batch of Rise-1 remote detonators from RSI Europe. It is also eyeing the
France : Trial confirms failures in surveillance of French serial killer Michel Fourniret
Testimony from investigators in court in Nanterre near Paris about the crimes of Michel Fourniret and Monique Olivier has confirmed
Cyprus/Israel/United Kingdom : London company FloLive maintains close connection to spyware developer Circles
New documents obtained by Intelligence Online show much closer ties than previously revealed between London startup FloLive and Cyprus-based cyber-intelligence
United Kingdom/United States : Oculus Financial Intelligence seeks US counterparts to track down Gaddafi clan assets
Star British barrister Steven Kay is busy setting up a new body connected to the Libyan Asset Recovery and Management
China : Xi Jinping's anti-corruption Christmas campaign
At least five major Chinese banks have introduced emergency surveillance measures to avoid facing new corruption investigations over the Christmas
France/Russia : Former ANSSI head admits that France-Russia cyberattack talks took place
Guillaume Poupard, who headed the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) from 2014 until late 2022,
France/Vietnam : Naval priorities at centre of efforts to restart Franco-Vietnamese defence relations
A Vietnamese diplomatic delegation is due to visit Paris today, 12 December, to discuss Vietnam's place in France's Indo-Pacific strategy,
France/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Behind the London-Heat..., Ardian's strategy for acquiring new strategic infrastructure
On 28 November, Spanish conglomerate Ferrovial made official the sale of its 25% stake in FGP Topco, the international consortium that owns London Heathrow airport's operator, Heathrow Airport Ho...
China/France : Xi Jinping to make first post-Covid visit to Paris
Intelligence Online has learned that Chinese President Xi Jinping is to visit France in early 2024, his first post-Covid trip
France/Middle East : A new role for Jean-Yves Le Drian in Israel-Hamas war
Jean-Yves Le Drian, who serves as Emmanuel Macron's special envoy for Lebanon and as such toured the Middle East in
Bulgaria : Lomini supplies surveillance solutions to Bulgaria
Bulgaria has opted to go with local distributor Lomini to equip its army with 52 manual reconnaissance terminals over the
Russia/Ukraine : Russia hits commercial SAR constellations with jamming storm
As a sign of its winter offensive to come, Russia is jamming the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellations of
United Kingdom : British parliamentary report slams GCHQ recruitment security breaches
GCHQ's "security culture and systems", particularly in recruitment and vetting, have come under fire in the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report, published on 5 Decem...
United Kingdom : Private security consultant Deverell never far from Foreign Affairs Committee projects
One of the witnesses to give oral evidence at the UK parliament Foreign Affairs Committee's hearing on the international counter-terrorism
China/France/India/Italy/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : MbS ...ndon, the UK FARA, Rome between Beijing and Delhi, DGSE ethics
Saudi Arabia/UK - Date set for MbS London visitSaudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) is planning to
Austria : The Grand Hotel Wien district, where diplomats gather in secret in Vienna
Vienna has often been called the spy capital of Europe and the region's intelligence services certainly keep a very closely
Philippines/Vietnam : Manila and Hanoi bypass ASEAN on South China Sea dispute
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will visit Hanoi in January to meet Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong and sign a
China : SolarPower Europe helps Chinese industry on the quiet
As we understand, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is interested in the lobbying work of SolarPower Europe. The association and
Russia : Zarya, guardian of Russia's space programme secrets, joins list of strategic companies
As the Russian government has been communicating a lot about producing new satellites, launching a new space station and building
Hungary/Moldova : Millennium investigators' discreet lobbying behind Wizz Air's Moldovan return
Low-cost airline Wizz Air is resuming operations in December at its key hub in Moldova after an almost nine-month hiatus
Russia/Ukraine : Kyiv's new Morok drones strike Russian military-industrial sites
Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, the SBU, is hitting Russia's industrial infrastructure using a new type of kamikaze drone, the Morok
France : The race to succeed Bernard Émié at France's DGSE after the Olympics
As Bernard Émié prepares to become the longest-serving head of France's external intelligence agency, the DGSE, since it replaced the
Russia/Ukraine/United States : Kyiv ups political pressure in Washington via Russian opposition
Historian, political commentator and former diplomatic interpreter Alexei Sobchenko has since October represented the Congress of People's Deputies in Washington
United States : New Washington-area nonprofit aims to thwart Moscow's attempts to weaken democratic governance
The brand-new newsletter of The Dekleptocracy Project (TDP), a recently launched Washington-area nonprofit, was delivered by email to its supporters on
China/France : French Senate to celebrate overseas Chinese business elite
The French Ligue Universelle du Bien Public has invited the Chinese business world's elite to an award ceremony at the
Bulgaria/United States : US investors pile up for Lukoil's Bulgarian refinery
South Florida oil billionnaire and former fighter pilot Harry Sargeant III has his eyes on the Lukoil Neftohim Burgas refinery,
France : Private French interceptions tradeshow, From Cogny... Lumi Networks, Venezuela boosts electronic warfare capacities
Paris: Interceptions tradeshow being preppedOn the back of its Sofins tradeshow, dedicated to the special forces, the Cercle de l'Arbalète,
Switzerland : US geolocation specialist Polaris Wireless's European ex-consultants regroup at Asperiq
The US 3D geolocation firm Polaris Wireless lost a legal battle with a French former consultant earlier this month. The latter
Netherlands/United States : Social Links in fund-raising drive as it seeks to attract private investigator clients
US-Dutch company Social Links is in the process of raising cash from US venture funds, according to Intelligence Online sources, promising prospective investors future growth driven by sales to p...
Central Asia/United States : Corporate intelligence firms extend their compliance practices into Central Asia
In mid-November, Texas corporate intelligence and business diplomacy company Straife, which is already active in the Balkans and Turkey, inaugurated
Germany/United Kingdom/United States : SITE in Berlin, Ashu...ield Intelligence, Audere Securus, from Schillings to Valkyrie
Berlin - German interior ministry picks SITE to combat Islamic fundamentalismThe US terrorist threat analysis firm SITE Intelligence Group has
Canada : Ottawa feels Washington's heat over Arctic surveillance
When the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced last month it would invest C$1.05bn in the Radarsat observation programme over the
Germany/Thailand : Tensions rise between Berlin and Bangkok over defence contracts
Thai industrialists and business agents are becoming increasingly concerned: for several weeks, they have been unable to import German defence
Germany/Ukraine : ISR Drones made with 3D printers supplied to Ukraine
The Bavaria-based 3D printing company Donaustahl, headed by Stefan Thumann, delivered a shipment of 60 Titan Falcon ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance
Luxembourg/Russia/United States : Luxembourg asset firm draws scrutiny from FBI
A Luxembourg asset management firm has come under scrutiny by the FBI for its alleged relationship with several sanctioned individuals, including a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch.Intelligence Onl...
China : Wuhan university to get new civil air defence and chemical defence facilities
Intelligence Online has learned that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee Secretary Xia Lixin and the director of Central China Normal
France/Netherlands/United States : International lawfare: Intense lobbying for French ICC judge
Paris is carrying out an unprecedented mobilisation of its diplomats in Europe and the United States to ensure that Nicolas
United States : America 2100, Republican Senator Marco Rubio's new megaphone
After being divulged with great fanfare six months ago, a new think tank closely affiliated with Florida Senator Marco Rubio appeared
Ukraine : Political battles in Kyiv: MP behind intelligence reform in hot seat
The Ukrainian MP Mariana Bezugla, who was elected in 2019 and joined the ruling Servant of the People party, is
Africa/France : DGSE worried as supplier row leaves Chad's spy plane plan in limbo
The stalled modernisation of two Cessna 208 aircraft destined for Chad's air force is worrying even the DGSE, according to
China/France : ACC's 'French' gigafactory retains its Chinese connection
Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a French-German joint venture created in 2020, claims to be a flagship of European sovereignty in
Europe : SecAlliance provides cyber protection for Europe's central banks
The Dutch subsidiary of British cyber threat intelligence (CTI) company Security Alliance (SecAlliance) is to offer its services to the National Bank
China/Europe/United States : Beijing and Washington draw neighbours into rivalry over space-based Arctic monitoring
As Intelligence Online reported last month (IO, 13/11/23), US analysts seem unfazed by Moscow's hardening military stance in the Arctic and are now turning their attention to monitoring Beijing's...
France : DGSE takes on economic sovereignty
The French external intelligence agency, the DGSE, is adapting to the government's new focus on economic sovereignty. As part of
Iran : Western intelligence tracking Iran's movements in Red Sea
Tehran is expanding its naval presence in the Red Sea, with a view to gathering intelligence and carrying out clandestine
Australia/China/France/United States : No visa waiver for A...ce journal, anti-terrorist cooperation in Kyiv, tax informants
Beijing - No visa-free travel to China for AUKUS membersLike Singaporean nationals, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain
Russia : Russian defence industry fails to find export contracts in Dubai
Intelligence Online understands that, despite attracting a large number of international visitors, Russia won no contracts at the Dubai Airshow,
Poland : GEOINT start-up SATIM catches NATO's eye
The Brussels-based NATO Communications and Information Agency, led by Ludwig Decamps, is trialling the artificial intelligence, automatic detection algorithms developed
Europe/Israel/United States : International lawfare: Gaza w...ts US double standards at ICC after push for Putin prosecution
The resumption of the Palestine dossier at the International Criminal Court (ICC) that accompanied the Hamas attack on 7 October has raised fears of American pressure against any case against Isr...
Israel/United States : AIPAC directing vast funding to Israel's friends in Congress and targeting its foes
Faced with growing signs of a potential political backlash as polls show unprecedented sympathy for Palestinians among US voters, the American
Russia/Thailand : Wagner-linked companies continue operating in Thailand
Faced with suffocating sanctions on its network of companies, Russia's Wagner mercenary group has been using several little-known Thai entities
France/Indonesia : Republikorp keen to house Subianto fighter jet fleet in air warfare centre
Defence minister and presidential candidate for the 14 February elections, Prabowo Subianto, is, according to our information, keen to develop a
Ukraine : Vasyl Malyuk, Ukraine's mole-catcher in chief
The spymaster at the head of Ukraine's domestic intelligence service (SBU), Vasyl Malyuk, 40, increasingly likes to talk about operations
France : DGSE gets its marching orders on gender equality
A decree published on 15 November, which makes changes to French civil service legislation applicable to the DGSE, provides for
United States : Two blocks away from the White House, the M...racts Washington's political elite and intelligence operatives
Washington has a number of members-only organisations that cater to the rich and powerful, such as the University Club and the Cosmos
Ukraine : Homemade drones deployed on front line in Ukraine
In a strike against its Chinese drone supplier DJI's secretly sending anti-drone systems to Russia (IO, 13/11/23), individuals and associations
China/Europe/United States : Disruptive weather ahead, part 3: the private sector takes position
Faced with the growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington over global weather capabilities, private players are positioning themselves across the
Azerbaijan/Kazakhstan/United States : After Baku, Brenda Shaffer opens doors for Astana in Washington
The scholar and business adviser Brenda Shaffer was sure to play a role in the visit to Washington of a
United States : Disruptive weather ahead, part 2: Washington counting on its Space Force to maintain meteorological supremacy
When the Pentagon's US Space Force (USSF) discreetly returned an obsolete civilian weather satellite to service over the Indian Ocean
Philippines/South Korea : Seoul's submarines stuck en route to Manila
South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering (DSME), is having difficulty obtaining licences for the Air Independent
France/Singapore : ChapsVision, Singapore delegation in Rennes, low-cost SIGINT for Kyiv
Paris - Services concerned by build of French technical intelligence monopoly around ChapsVisionCould ChapsVision's flurry of acquisition of former providers
Bosnia/Europe : EU changes aerial reconnaissance supplier in Sarajevo
DEA Aviation, the British company controlled by Stephen Turley, continues to land new European contracts. In its latest deal, the
Cyprus/Russia/UAE/United Kingdom : Abramovich Jr's networks, part 2: the crucial British-Cypriot financier
The son of Russian oil, gas and finance tycoon Roman Abramovitch, Arkady Abramovitch, has been actively moving his capital around
Israel/Thailand : How Israeli cyber-intelligence firms break into the Thai market
On 8 November, Bangkok's newly appointed Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chanthararuangthong, made a lengthy visit to Israeli company Cellebrite's stand at Defense & Security, Th...
Japan/United Kingdom/United States : Highgate, G3, Garbo, ReSolve TPA, Minerva, ThoughtLeaders4 Disputes
London - Highgate expands dispute resolution practicePaul Austin, a former Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) civil servant, will join
China : Yao Yang, the rising voice of China's new financial control system
President Xi Jinping's confirmation earlier this month that Prime Minister Li Qiang will chair the Central Financial Commission (CFC) and
Russia : Binance quietly helped sanctioned Russian crypto exchange
The world's largest crypto exchange Binance quietly helped a sanctioned Russian-based exchange conduct over 100,000 transactions, according to The Financial
France : DGSI team to join French interministerial GIC at new office in Paris suburbs
France's GIC, which authorises most of the interceptions conducted by the French intelligence services, will not be alone when it
China : Disruptive weather ahead, part 1: Beijing wants to extend influence over world's meteorological capabilities
The launch by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) of its Belt and Road Logistics and Meteorological Platform (BRLMP) international meteorological
Europe/Ukraine : We're jamming: Kyiv looks to European market for help in drone fight
As well as Ukraine's official ministerial delegation to French security expo Milipol Paris, held from 14 to 17 November, Kyiv
France : French legal interceptions platform plagued by blind spots
Although now considered to be operational, after years in development, France's legal interceptions platform, or PNIJ, is far from fully
United States : GEOINT champion Umbra at centre of dispute between investors with historic ties to far-right
GOP political donor and investment manager Hal Lambert has until 31 December to respond to a lawsuit filed by Charles Johnson, a former political operative, FBI informant and businessman, in a di...
Bulgaria/United States : Advisory and compliance firm Straife weaves network with Texan traders and Caspian oil firms
Corporate intelligence and advisory firm Straife has been strengthening its links with Texan oil and gas traders. Earlier this month,
Russia : Financial intelligence cooperation with EU on the brink
With possible future sanctions against Yuri Chikhanchin, Brussels is closing the door on intelligence exchanges with the Russian financial monitoring
France/United States : Forward Global, ex-Avisa Partners, looks for fresh cash
The past months have been tumultuous for Avisa Partners. It has suffered a media storm that threw the spotlight on
Turkey/UAE : Mid-consolidation, EDGE eyes Turkish defence industry
The order of Rush-2 armed drones the UAE armed forces placed last week with ADASI, a subsidiary of the national
France/Vietnam : ASIADEV's setbacks with French defence groups
Philippe Ortoli's Asia Development Consulting (ASIADEV) (IO, 11/05/23), which specialises in defence prospecting in Vietnam, is seeing its collaboration unravelling
Ukraine : MPS Development, a pivot for the Ukrainian army's intel systems
The Ukrainian firm MPS Development, headed by Vitaly Baranovsky, is about to deploy its Sirius airspace command and control platform
UAE : As EDGE's IGG takeover looms, Western manufacturers fret over UAE defence industry consolidation
Western defence firms seem to be worried by the forthcoming absorption of International Golden Group (IGG) into the Emirati parastatal defence conglomerate EDGE Group, as revealed by Intelligence...
Israel : Hacking attack on veterans' association embarrasses Mossad and Shin Bet
A hacking incident occurred recently that Israel's intelligence community, under fire for failing to prevent the Hamas atrocities on 7
Kuwait : Mohammed Al Mutairi seeks cyber protection tools for Kuwait at Milipol
Kuwaiti businessman Mohammed Al Mutairi was spotted at the internal security and policing trade fair Milipol in Paris on 14-17
France : ChapsVision poised to win DGSI call for tender
France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, is about to announce the winners of the call for tender for its mass data analysis platform, OTDH.
France/Ukraine : Six Mirages in a cloud of F-16s for Ukraine
The latest discussions between French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov concern the delivery by Paris of six Mirage 2000 aircraft.
France : The hidden intelligence fiasco behind French serial killer Michel Fourniret
The monstrous case of French serial killers Michel Fourniret and Monique Olivier, revealed after an arrest in Belgium in 2003,
Argentina/United States : Does Javier Milei's election in Argentina spell good news or bad for private investigators?
Argentina's many creditors are hoping that Javier Milei, who was elected president on 19 November, will keep his promises to
United States : Efforts to improve diversity and equality in intelligence community not paying off
As the selection process for the FBI's new headquarters in a predominantly African-American city of Maryland continues to raise eyebrows,
France/UAE/Ukraine : DRSD in Dubai, Kyiv's new deputy minister, SGDSN command, CIA's OSINT
Ukraine - Ex-Huawei employee appointed deputy minister for territories reintegration32-year-old Oleksi Bruslyk is settling into his new position as deputy minister
China/UAE : Chinese electronic warfare firm behind UAE's Milipol exhibitor Wolvesfleet
The UAE interceptions and jamming equipment firm Wolvesfleet blended right in at the Milipol internal security and policing trade fair
China/India : Secret China-India talks aim to redefine Himalayan border
Beijing's ministry of state security (MSS, or Guoanbu) has started secret negotiations with New Delhi to resolve the "Himalaya" issue, in particular a deal on the eastern border with India's stat...
Cyprus/Russia/United Kingdom/United States : Abramovich Jr's networks, part 1: from Swansea football to Russian aeronautics
While the recent "Cyprus Confidential" investigation based on leaked Cypriot financial services documents detailed the networks of oil and finance
France/Iran/Israel : French intelligence missions hone in on Tehran
Only a year after they were set up, the French foreign intelligence service DGSE's new mission centres (IO, 25/07/22) have
UAE : Emirates Golf Club, the 19th hole favoured by Pakistani officers visiting Dubai
Many allies of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, deposed by a motion of censure in April 2022 and imprisoned
France/Russia : Kremlin clans identify French companies ripe for nationalisation
Fear is growing in the C-suites of French companies with subsidiaries in Russia that the Kremlin will forcibly nationalise their
France/UAE : Former Indian military cyber-intelligence specialist Bryan Miranda eyes French tech
Ex-Indian Army cyber specialist Bryan Miranda is planning to open a French subsidiary of his Dubai-based firm Plus971 Cyber Security, Intelligence
France/Gulf of Guinea : Amarante teams with Cassini Conseil to advise French defence ministry
Amarante International is teaming with Cassini Conseil for an observational study “on the analysis of audiences of interest to France in the Gulf of Guinea area”, for the French DGRIS.
Myanmar : Burmese opposition: The spy who came in from the NUG
Our man, in his fifties and dressed in civilian clothes, sits sipping a Thai whisky on the rocks in a
France/United Kingdom/United States : Israeli special forces vet Doron Kempel extends private security services to Europe
Israeli businessman Doron Kempel is expanding his private security services in Europe. He registered TG-17 (UK), a subsidiary of his
Russia : Shadow mobilisation: Wagner veterans sell to the highest bidder
There is still some uncertainty surrounding the restructuring of the Wagner militia undertaken by the Kremlin in October (IO, 09/10/23),
Ukraine : Industrial parks spring up around Lviv
Outside the city of Lviv, in west Ukraine, numerous foreign investment projects are in the pipeline. Leading the pack, Seoul
Colombia/United Kingdom : Glencore's Covert Ops in Colombia, part 3: Glencore still blames rogue employee
When Intelligence Online recently asked Glencore to respond to questions concerning an intelligence operation it conducted against critics of its coal
UAE : UAE reorganises its cybersecurity
The UAE's Cyber Security Council (CSC) is building a National Security Operations Center (NSOC) to secure the Emirates, Intelligence Online
Europe/Ukraine/United States : Ramstein summit set for showdown between Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians
The meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group - due to take place today in Ramstein, in Germany - will gather most of the defence ministers of Kyiv's allies. It is likely to expose the growing...
France/Saudi Arabia/Turkey/United States : French cyber in ...Raytheon Cyber develops Naval Information Warfare Center tools
Riyadh: French cyber brainstorms plans for Saudi ArabiaThe French embassy in Saudi Arabia hosted a small gathering of French cyber
Israel/United States : Site 512, a US military bubble in Israel's Negev desert
Secret US infrastructures housed on site 512 of Mount Har Qeren overlooking the Negev desert were recently strengthened to provide
United States : Kroll investigates firm accused of selling Chinese equipment to US Army
Kroll was hired to investigate a military medical company that allegedly misrepresented its equipment as American-made to the Department of
United Kingdom/United States : Apertus goes Spanish, Zenobia, Vesper, LB International Solutions, Blackpeak
Madrid/Paris/London - Apertus welcomes Spanish memberApertus, which is an alliance of former intelligence officers comprising British, French and German spymasters,
Switzerland/United Kingdom : Charles Carr pursues Europe expansion with support of low-profile family office
The small C and F Partners intelligence empire operated by Charles Carr from his home in Milan is thriving thanks,
China/Italy : Guanbu's behind-the-scenes support for Taiwan opposition coalition
China's ministry of state security (MSS, or Guanbu) has discreetly supported the 'blue-white' alliance between Taiwan's two main opposition parties
France/Switzerland/UAE : Rothschild & Co's Gulf business catchers
Rothschild Middle East, a subsidiary of banking group Rothschild & Co based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is
Israel : Rafael's ISR Spark drone receives baptism of fire in Gaza
The Israeli Air Force's 114th Drone Squadron, or Squadron Phoenix, which operates out of the Hatzor air base, is making
China/United States : China-focused Marathon Initiative backed by conservative foundations and Pentagon takes off
Elbridge Colby, co-founder of the Marathon Initiative think tank, has emerged as one of the country's best known China hands, winning a slew of favourable news coverage, testifying before Congres...
Panama/United States : McLarty Inbound lobbying in Washingt...alf of Canadian mining company at centre of protests in Panama
First Quantum Minerals (IO, 30/08/23), the Canadian-based mining firm whose operations in Panama have triggered huge demonstrations that led indirectly to
China/Italy : China tests new propaganda strategy to improve image in Italy
The "BRICS and the New World Order" conference, to be held on 30 November in Rome by the Fondazione di
France : French DRSD scours internet to protect small defence providers' reputation
The French ministry of armed forces' defence security intelligence directorate, the DRSD, decidedly has a taste for fighting interference. In
United Kingdom : Elizabeth II's former private secretary adds consulting notch to belt
Christopher Geidt, the former private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, registered his new consultancy, Hurista Advisory, in Edinburgh on 6 November.
Russia/Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 7: How Moscow continues to increase its tactical interceptions capacity
In trying to contain Ukraine's counter-offensive, Russia has been rolling out new RB-636 Svet-KU-type signals intelligence (SIGINT) equipment en masse,
UAE : Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed consolidates Abu Dhabi's defence industry
The Al Kaabi clan (see our Insiders here), like others before them, will need to make way for Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (KbM), the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and eldest son of Presid...
Russia : Kremlin tightens up control of leading air defence group Almaz-Antey
In its efforts to increase production at air defence group Almaz-Antey, a key part of armaments conglomerate Rostec, the Kremlin
Israel : Israeli cyber providers called to assist intelligence services
Since the start of Israel's war against Hamas, the country's technical intelligence services, namely the military's Unit 8200 and Unit
Europe : EIB ramps up financial investigations budget
The European Investment Bank (EIB) in early November rekindled the competition between service providers to join its pool of private
France/Uzbekistan : Uzbekistan eyes French Rafale fighter planes
A potential defence sales opportunity also opened up during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the Uzbek capital Tashkent on 2 November, when energy and mining contracts were signed with...
France/Kurdistan/Syria : Anti-ISIS fighter contests DGSI surveillance that led to his trial for terrorism
"I am not a terrorist. I am proud of what I did in Syria": it is possible to have fought
United Kingdom : UK's Foreign Office, Russia Unit and MI6 lead fight against Wagner
The British government has responded to parliamentary criticism of its handling of the threat posed by Wagner by creating a
Belarus/France/Pakistan/United Kingdom/United States : USAI...ilitary intelligence, DNI's Asia-focused OSINT, Richard Barlow
Belarus - Washington appoints new Office of Transition Initiatives representative The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected Jessica Holst
China/India/United States : Washington tracks Chinese army's secret Himalayan space launch
A news item published on 9 November by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) made Western space surveillance services sit up and pay attention. The article and accompanying photos recount the tes...
Russia : Vladimir Alekseyev, the bridge between military intelligence and paramilitary groups
General Vladimir Alekseyev stayed out of the limelight as Russia celebrated its Military Intelligence Day on 5 November. The first
Ukraine : Ukraine seeks structure for its cyber troops
Ukraine is looking to structure its cyber defences as it prepares for another winter at war (IO, 13/11/23). Drawing on
France/Russia : France's Leroy Merlin, Lafarge and Sucden face tricky Russia exit
The French sugar company Sucden, one of the main producers in Russia, is currently looking for advice on how to
Middle East : Gulf nations seek joint response to Iranian hackers
The project for a regional cyber architecture between the signatories of the July 2020 Abraham Accords is being put to
UAE/United States : Fasano Fifth Avenue, an exclusive NYC club where private spies tracked down an Abu Dhabi oil tycoon
Ever since its opening in 2021 as the world was slowly waking up from the Covid-19 pandemic, fashion and business
Thailand : US takes on China in Southeast Asian airborne intelligence market
The US company A2G International, which conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions with its fleet of Cessna planes, is
Porto Rico : Puerto Rican businessman appears in upcoming trial of former FBI agent Marc Rossini
Already entangled in a massive fraud dispute with the financier John Paulson, Puerto Rican businessman Fahad Ghaffar is also set
China : China launches spy satellites into orbit before winter
China launched its very high resolution Tianhui-5 military observation satellite on 31 October, bringing to a close a three-month period in
Philippines : US and Israeli firms at the ready to bolster Philippine cyber defence
Following on from a series of cyber tenders run last year to protect itself from distributed denial-of-service attacks and ransomware,
Ukraine/United States : C5 Capital, Expedition Technology
Washington - C5 Capital lobbies for Ukrainian cyberBritish cyber investor C5 Capital has launched a lobbying campaign in Washington to
France/Montenegro : Paris makes play to influence Balkan cyber
The construction of the new Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in Montenegro is due to be completed by the
UAE : CPX to merge with Injazat in latest UAE cyber transformation
According to information Intelligence Online has gleaned, the UAE cyber intelligence firm CPX is about to merge with cyber defence developer Injazat to form a new entity that could be call Injaza...
United Kingdom : Nick Candy ropes in USG Security for legal battles
The next hearing in the court battle between British luxury property magnate Nicholas Anthony Christopher Candy, better known simply as
United States : SeerAI start-up eyes US agencies' growing climate intelligence needs
The announcement on 31 October of SeerAI's fundraiser came 24 hours before the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) launched
United Kingdom/United States : 5 Stones, FTI, Red Five at 2020Partners
Miami/Washington - 5 Stones scores more ex-FBI officers for W1 GlobalPrivate investigator David Tinsley's Miami-based corporate intelligence provider 5 Stones
Israel : Political consultant Aron Shaviv creates sister company to Vantage Intelligence
Israeli political consultant Aron Shaviv is launching a sister company to the UK-based corporate intelligence firm Vantage Intelligence.The new entity,
Iran/Israel : Western intelligence keeping close watch on Iran's Revolutionary Guard units 340 and 190
Unit 340 of the Al-Qods branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is in charge of the development
Poland/Ukraine/United States : Pentagon reinforces its Ukraine support facility in Poland
The US's Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) three-star joint forces command is looking to beef up the Tele-Maintenance and Distribution Cell,
China : Party strategises to claw back control of financial sector
The fates of Huang Zhaohui, management committee chairman and chief executive of China International Capital Corp (CICC), and his executive director, Shen Rujun, are still shrouded in mystery. Wh...
Oman/United Kingdom : Labour MPs build on Muscat networks
When British Labour Party MPs Nia Griffith and Wayne David travelled to Oman from 2 to 6 October, the Muscat-based
Russia : Moscow governor tries new strategy to reach troop mobilisation target
The governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov (IO, 21/08/23), is urgently trying out a new system for mobilising volunteers
UAE : Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi's ascent to the top of Abu Dhabi business
Abu Dhabi's first-ever Minister of Investment, Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi, has been assuming an increasingly diplomatic role since taking charge
Russia/Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 6: Pole-21 and Krasukha systems frustrate Kyiv's front-line operations
Ukraine is currently making an all-out bid to destroy Russia's electronic warfare capacity, particularly its GPS and satellite jamming systems.
China/Pakistan : China bets on more security and PR to complete its Silk Road in Pakistan
Only a few months ago, plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) launched in 2015 as part of the new Silk Road appeared to be on the line (Belt & Road Initiative, BRI, or One Belt One...
United Kingdom : Former Air Chief Marshal Wigston goes into consulting
For his new company, Hidcote Advisory, ex-Air Chief Marshall Michael Wigston could draw on his experience as the point of contact for foreign firms wanting to work with BAE Systems.
Iran/Russia : Tehran rearms in Moscow
Iran's military attaché in Moscow, Reza Khosravi Moghaddam, recently told his Russian counterparts that Iran wants to acquire Termit anti-ship
Russia/Ukraine : Peace negotiations: Kyiv prepares political ground for 2024
As the "last phase of the war" begins, as Volodymyr Zelensky put it, the Ukrainian presidential office (Bankova) is preparing
China/France/Italy/Poland/Russia/United States : China-Ital..., DGSI's new HQ, Consensus on intel classification in Congress
Italy - Giorgia Meloni closes door on China talksItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's team recently informed the working group made
United Kingdom : John le Carré himself hired private spies
In a documentary released on 20 October on Apple TV+, David Cornwell, alias John Le Carré, describes, in a final
France/UAE : Air France vs. Emirates rivalry puts bilateral relations to the test
When they next meet in December in Paris, Damien Cazé, head of DGAC, the French civil aviation directorate, and Abdulla
China/Russia/Ukraine : Chinese drone geolocation system encryption troubles Kyiv
Ukraine's front line military commanders are currently particularly concerned by China's DJI group's plans to equip its Aeroscope anti-drone system
Russia/United States : Moscow flexes its muscles in the Arctic, Pentagon sees a smokescreen
Moscow intends to position up to five new Krasukha-4 mobile jamming stations on the archipelagos of its Arctic coast, or at least that's what the security establishment has let slip in the hope o...
France : New DGSE premises budget swells by €185m
In his report on the ministry of armed forces' intelligence programme, Horizons MP rapporteur Jean-Charles Larsonneur makes a point of
France/Russia : Franco-Russian chamber of commerce in line for shake-up
The Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce (CCI France-Russie, or CCFR), officially presided by Gilles Chenesseau but informally steered by his long-time
Taiwan/United States : Taipei inks new deal with lobbyists from powerful political dynasty
Daniel Díaz-Balart, the scion of Florida's most powerful right-wing Cuban-American family, whose uncle Mario Díaz-Balart holds a seat in the
Israel/United States : Ex-special agent charged with corruption in blow for US Department of Homeland Security
In the closing act of a court case that caused great embarrasment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a former special
United Kingdom : Cavendish Dental Clinic, where British intelligence loosens its lips
Her number will surely be making the rounds anew among sweet-toothed spies, smarting from Halloween binges. From the ranks of
Taiwan : Intelligence chief Tsai Ming-yen keeps focus on China
New director but same focus: China. Since Tsai Ming-yen took over the National Security Bureau (NSB), Taiwan's external intelligence agency,
Israel : NSO helps buoy ties between Tel Aviv and N'Djamena
The Israeli cyber-intelligence company NSO Group recently approached the Chadian Ministry of Public Security and is now holding direct talks
United States : Vantage Intelligence has front row seat in legal dispute between John Paulson and Fahad Ghaffar
In a lawsuit filed in October in Puerto Rico, billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson has accused his former business
France/Saudi Arabia : Macron's visit to Riyadh now mooted for early 2024
Emmanuel Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia is now expected to take place in the first quarter of 2024. It had
Russia/Ukraine : Russian-appointed authorities seek coal investors
Four small coal companies in the Moscow-controlled Donetsk oblast are soon to be transferred to private hands and the local
France/Iran/Ukraine : Kyiv promotes cyber sharing, Iran deploys Cobra V8 jammer, DGSE after AI data analysis
Kyiv: RNBO promotes cyber collaborationUkraine is looking for a solution to stock forensic data and Indicators of Compromise (IoC) obtained
Israel : Hamas conducts large-scale jamming operations against Israeli forces
Hamas has been using more effective jamming techniques to hamper Israeli air strikes in Gaza since the start of the conflict. Israel's military intelligence service, Aman, has noted a recent upti...
United States : Close to Kazakh networks and a Trump supporter, Stephan Roh takes the helm of energy-specialising group
A Swiss lawyer with extensive business connections to several former Soviet states, Stephan Roh has just become head of the
France/Russia : Macron keeps door shut on French-Russian memorial diplomacy
Three of six Russian World War I soldiers were buried in the Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand Cemetery in late October after their remains
Turkey/United Kingdom/United States : StoneTurn's new adviser, Bryza to Straife, Ziani off to Sqope
New York: New senior adviser for StoneTurnAfter a dozen years as head of the compliance department at Moody's rating agency,
Israel : Israeli drone maker works with obscure Russian fintech company
Israeli drone maker Aeronautics Ltd has continued to do business with an obscure Russian fintech company, even after the war
France/Russia : French embassy in Moscow drops long-standing security contractor
The French embassy in Moscow recently decided to change the security contractor that protects its compound in the heart of
France/Saudi Arabia : After Ardian and Tikehau in Abu Dhabi, Eurazeo tries luck in Riyadh
Like many French investment funds before it, Eurazeo, with €35bn in assets under management (AUM), wants to have its own
Italy : Italian cyber intelligence specialist Movia goes global
The Italian cyber intelligence outfit Movia will be presenting its spyware Spider at next ISS World, the gathering of intelligence
Kazakhstan/Ukraine : Behind the scenes of the partnership between Open Dialogue Foundation and Kazakh businessman Ablyazov
As former BTA Bank chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov pursues his battle with the French judicial authorities, four months after the Court of Cassation quashed an order cancelling the legal action taken a...
France : French Defence and Foreign ministries disagree on Indo-Pacific policy
Marc Abensour, France's ambassador in Singapore from 2016 to 2022, has been reaching out to contacts in the Pacific since
China/United States : Guoanbu holds fire on Xi's possible attendance of APEC summit
Did the White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre speak too soon? Her announcement on 2 November that US President Joe Biden
United Kingdom : Animus Associates tracks cosmetics exported to Russia
One of the directors of London-based beauty retailer CP Parfums has called in a variety of private investigators to show
France : French MPs slam special funds budget as miscalculated
A chapter of the annual report of the French parliamentary intelligence delegation, or DPR, published this month (IO, 02/11/23), covers
Ukraine/United States : US firm Cisco gaining dominance in Ukraine thanks to USAID's cyber assistance programmes
According to customs slips seen by Intelligence Online, American development agency USAID recently delivered several items of security equipment from
Vietnam : Vietnam's Vingroup heads into economic influence with management training school
Intelligence Online understands that Vietnam's Vingroup, which owns the electric car brand VinFast, is planning to launch a management training
Israel : Israel maps Gaza's underground using SAR and Lidar
Amid its ground offensive, Tsahal is mobilising its intelligence resources to map the "Gaza underground", with Israel's geospatial intelligence unit
UAE : DP World imposes new handling charges on shipping giants
French maritime shipping giant CMA CGM, Denmark's Maersk, China's Cosco Shipping Ports and the Swiss-Italian MSC are set to lose an average of $30m each annually in the wake of new rules regardin...
France : DPR and fiscal intelligence, La France Insoumise and the CNCTR
France - Parliamentary intelligence delegation still queries new fiscal intelligence unit In its annual report published on 2 November (IO,
France : France's parliamentary intelligence delegation laments missing classified documents
While their words remain restrained, the irritation of the eight MPs and senators on France's parliamentary intelligence delegation, the DPR,
France : French gendarmes top users of legal interception platform
According to the French Justice Department's preparatory work for the 2024 budget, the French National Gendarmerie is the main user
Estonia : Tallinn calls in surveillance equipment distributor Optimus Systems to secure border with Russia
For a 12-month period, which started on 19 October, Optimus Systems will supply the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
Ethiopia/Russia : Russian technology and training bolster Ethiopia's SIGINT capacities
Russian-made Krasukha-4 jamming systems featured in a military parade in Addis Ababa on 26 October and Ethiopia is due to
United States : Frictions over CIA changes to economic intelligence methods
Economic intelligence, a key factor in the rivalries between the world's powers, has not been left aside in the changes the CIA has undertaken to adapt to transnational threats. As we understand,...
United Kingdom : Armiger expands in Middle East, with Michael Fallon's support
The London-based corporate intelligence and private security company Armiger Group continued to extend its international reach with the creation of
Israel/Ukraine/United States : Defence firms ratchet up pol... opportunities blossom with wars in Europe and the Middle East
With Russia's war on in Ukraine, fighting between Israel and Hamas, and increased tension between Washington and Beijing, business prospects
Israel : A short-sighted intelligence service and a stubborn PM, Ronen Bar's perfect storm
Ronan Bar, head of the Israel Security Agency (ISA), or Shin Bet, has gone from war hero to an intelligence lame duck
France/UAE : Macron and MbZ aim to further France-UAE financial relations at COP28
If French president Emmanuel Macron's visit to Dubai during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, being held in the emirate from
Central Asia/United States : Caspian Policy Center quietly backs Central Asian governments, in particular Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan's military strike in Nagorno-Karabakh has been broadly condemned in Washington, but President Ilham Aliyev's regime still has well-connected friends
India/Pakistan : Fearful of Indian infiltration, Pakistan's ISI steps up university surveillance
A team from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was recently tasked with checking that academics at certain Pakistani universities were indeed
Cambodia : Khéma La Poste provides quiet corner for strategic conversations in Phnom Pen
In a building that once served as a warehouse for Messageries Fluviales de Cochinchine, the River Shipping Company of Chochinchina,
China/Israel : Israeli-Hong Kong technical intelligence connection revived
Despite Beijing's support of Palestine, Israeli cyber firms are making inroads into China. The Israeli geolocation via advertising data, or
China/France/Russia/Turkey : French parliamentary intelligence delegation pushes harder for foreign interference bill
In its report on foreign interference published today, 2 November, the French parliamentary intelligence delegation, the DPR, wants the government
Taiwan/United States : Taiwanese presidential candidate Gou behind mysterious Tech Island lobbying campaign in US
Taiwanese company Tech Island has just hired Chartwell Strategy Group to lobby for it in the United States. The US
France/Middle East : Influence battle between Israel and Gulf nations plays out in Nice
Global Diwan, mid-way between a business club, a think-tank and an Arab World-orientated legal consulting firm, has pushed back its
France : New French fiscal intelligence service won't be fully operational until 2027
Plans to create the new fiscal intelligence service were announced with a major public relations fanfare on 9 May. The
Israel/United States : Assured Information Security's cyber...er Cohen launches Israeli firm, Brian Katz into private sector
Rome, Washington: Assured Information Security lands more cyber for USAFThe US cyber firm Assured Information Security (IO, 15/07/20), headed by
Cyprus/France/Israel : France strengthens Middle East interceptions apparatus to cover Israel-Palestine crisis
France's military intelligence service, the DRM (Direction du Renseignement Militaire) is sending troops to reinforce its interceptions, or SIGINT, base in the Cyprus resort of Paphos, to improve...
Russia/United States : Russian oligarch hires New York crisis comms consultant in yacht dispute
Russian oligarch Eduard Khudainatov has recently hired New York-based communications consultant David Vermillion as part of his attempts to get
France : Counter-drone flyweight Drone XTR takes on sector giants
As we understand, Drone XTR, a company based in Normandy, France, led by Jean-François Adam, is in pole position to
Israel/United States : Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres's Israel backing rewarded by financial windfall from AIPAC
A vocal supporter of Israel in the US since the Hamas attack on 7 October, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres of New
Central Asia/Germany : Consultant Konstantin Panovko thriving in Berlin despite loss of Russian oligarch clients
The corporate intelligence and lobbying firm German PR and Consulting Group (GPRC) continues to provide services to the government of
Netherlands/Russia : Congolese candidate hopes for Russian largesse in UN court elections
Congolese former diplomat and judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, who is bidding to be one of five new judges elected to
France/Saudi Arabia : Airbus parts ways with local chief after hitting turbulent skies in Saudi Arabia
Intelligence Online has learned that Adel Fekih will step down as the CEO of Airbus KSA, the European aircraft manufacturer's
Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 5: Kyiv deploys newly developed ETER electronic warfare system
The Ukrainian company Falcons, headed by Svitlana Braslavska, has started supplying specialised units of Ukraine's armed forces with its ETER
France/Saudi Arabia : Former French political stars push their business interests at "Davos in the Desert"
After a night at the Radisson Blu on King Abdulaziz Road, former French prime minister Francois Fillon was to be found wandering among the stands at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riya...
Europe/Israel/Kyrgyzstan/United Kingdom/United States : Equ...ek and EU security in Israel, LitCon Group, Amarante in Riyadh
London - Ex-treasury secretary Charles Roxburgh expands consultancy network in BahrainThe UK's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has approved Charles
France : Senate hits gender parity problem over nominations to intelligence oversight commission
Following the French senatorial elections in September, the French Senate has had to renew its representatives on two intelligence service oversight bodies. Yet the Socialist group has hit a gend...
Finland/Ukraine : Ukraine boosts SAR capacities in readiness for Russia's winter offensive
Ukraine is getting ready for winter's overcast skies by enhancing its synthetic aperture radar imagery capacity. The Ukrainian military intelligence
Algeria/Italy/Russia/San Marino : France-Russia-Italy consultant Goût readies for next step in Algeria
San Marino has appointed Emmanuel Goût, a business provider between Europe and Russia already serving as its ambassador-at-large, as its
Turkey : Foreign Minister Fidan still pulls the strings at MIT
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan retains unwavering influence over the intelligence service, the MIT, which he headed for eight years.
France : France's Défense Conseil International poised for change in wake of acquisition by ADIT
Philippe Caduc, who has headed ADIT for nearly 30 years, gave himself a special anniversary present on 20 October with
France/Iraq/Kuwait/Middle East : Iraq-Kuwait border dispute threatens Macron's Baghdad III summit
The third Baghdad Conference, aka Baghdad III, to be held in the Iraqi capital in late November, is hanging by
China/Russia : Military industry under sanctions: Russian Helicopters seals secret Beijing deal
An agreement sealed between Russian Helicopters and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) to produce a heavy-lift helicopter based on
Israel/Russia/Ukraine : Tel Aviv changes tune on military support to Kyiv
Diplomatic support to Iran and its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, and secret projects to deliver Israeli-designed drones to Syria have been uncovered by Intelligence Online (IO, 23/10/23). Russia'...
China/India : Xi Jinping banks on Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Vietnam to turn next wave of BRICS admissions to China's advantage
On the sidelines of the New Silk Roads summit (Belt & Road Initiative, BRI, or One Belt One Road, OBOR)
France/Russia : French intelligence delves back into Chechen diaspora
Since the Arras school knife attack of 13 October by an individual born in Ingushetia, a neighbouring republic of Chechnya,
China/France/United Kingdom : No new AUKUS members, DGSE re..., Beijing watching IDF, GIGN and RAID on France-Canada flights
United Kingdom - Opposition to AUKUS expansion over intelligence technologiesIn its lengthy and detailed UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific report,
Ukraine : Griselda joins Ukraine's intelligence data fusion architecture
Institutional and private players in the Ukrainian intelligence community are currently finalising Griselda, a new interservice data fusion interface. According
China/France : Panic over Chinese consultant in French space defence sector
Her arrival has revived the security wars between the French civil and defence space industries, as the hunt continues for potential Chinese penetration of the French space defence sector. Some w...
United Kingdom : UAE's spymaster, the British short seller and anonymous X account holders in smear campaign
Bazookanews.com, an anonymous internet site, recently published a series of shock ‘revelations' about the UAE's national security adviser Tahnoon bin
Qatar/United States : US court case downs Doha's drone ambitions
The explosive lawsuit US defence giant Textron filed with the Maryland district court on 19 October spells the end of
United States : General Atomics lobbyist Liz Williams has close contacts in congress
Lobbyist Liz Williams's recently exposed affair with a member of congress is bringing unwanted scrutiny to her clients, just as she
Germany/Russia : Where Russian officers like to gather in Berlin's busy Mitte district
Hidden among the cosmopolitan crowd of Berlin's central Mitte district, you might spot a Russian officer or two on a
Mongolia : Intelligence chief Peljee Odonbaatar takes Mongolia's security shift up a gear
Colonel Peljee Odonbaatar, director of Mongolia's General Intelligence Agency (GIA) for over three years, works hard to provide intelligence to Zhadambyn
Ukraine/United States : Following Penny Pritzker's appointment, USAID prepares reconstruction push in Ukraine
In the weeks to come, three agents recruited by US international development aid body USAID are to be sent to
Israel/Italy : GR Sistemi expands global reach
Italian cyber intelligence outfit GR Sistemi continues to grow its international presence. To help continue that momentum, it has hired consultant
China/Ukraine : Kyiv's appetite for Chinese surveillance tech shows no sign of waning
Despite Washington's increasing displeasure, Kyiv continues to rely heavily on Chinese surveillance technology. According to the customs declarations that Intelligence Online has seen, some of th...
France/Ukraine : Nicolas Le Nen oversees French forces in Ukraine
General Nicolas Le Nen was a constant presence at French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu's side during his visit to Ukraine
India : India races to catch up with China in space defence
In India's current Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) call for projects, six of the twelve competitions open to start-ups are
Argentina/United States : Argentina's libertarian presidential contender backed by far-right Atlas Network
The first round balloting in Argentina's presidential election on 22 October marked a victory for libertarian candidate Javier Milei and his Liberty
France : Comcyber puts out feelers ahead of online influence consultation
France's corporate intelligence community is waiting with bated breath for the next French Cyber Command or Comcyber consultation on online
Bulgaria/Russia/United States : Lukoil refinery in Bulgaria attracts interest from US
As Bulgaria seeks to decouple itself from Russian energy, a battle has emerged over the ownership of the biggest oil
Qatar/Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Cyber investor... in Kyiv, Horizon keeps space goals alive, Hawaii's D7 in Doha
Kyiv - Cyber investor André Pienaar visits UkraineAs we understand, the South African cyber investor based in London André Pienaar paid
Latvia/Ukraine : Western AI firms covet Ukraine's military intelligence data
Latvian artificial intelligence (AI) company SensusQ is currently in talks with the head of international partnerships and cooperation at the Ukraine defence innovation cluster Brave1, Sergiy Kos...
Germany/Kazakhstan/United Kingdom/United States : Chorus pr... resurfaces at Arcanum; Ex-CIA officer Peristere launches firm
London - Ex-DoJ investigator helps Chorus make play for US marketKyle Hatin, a veteran Department of Justice investigator, has recently
France/Ukraine : Legal action over cancelled state tender for Ukrainian military training
A court decision to dismiss a case can still appoint a losing party. That is what the French government and
UAE : X99 opens doors in UAE for OSINT specialists
The UAE's military cyber industry apparatus is taking a growing interest in open source intelligence, or OSINT, and the Dubai-based
United States : Former CIA officer headlines new private intelligence firm The Aracari Project
A former CIA officer has quietly become affiliated with a new corporate intelligence company that claims to reject the notion that all problems require a lawful solution. Lindsay Moran is the Dir...
France : Risk & Co break-up leaves TotalEnergies contract in limbo
The Nanterre Commercial Court went with the underdog when deciding the buyers for French security and corporate intelligence firm Risk
Ukraine : Agents from Kyiv's foreign intelligence service active on frontline
Although much lower profile than its counterparts, the SZRU, Kyiv's foreign intelligence service, is in fact active behind the scenes.
United States : Congress spoils intelligence personnel as it tries to battle growing polarisation
In a bipartisan initiative, members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) presented a bill on 17 October to
France : The 'little secrets' of the DGSE's 2024 budget
The war in Ukraine, the Middle East in turmoil, last-minute secret missions (like DGSE director Bernard Émié's whirlwind visit to
Myanmar/Vietnam : Alexis Delevaux is key broker for cyber-intelligence groups in South East Asia
Alexis Delevaux is mentioned in the criminal investigation into Nexa Technologies carried out by the journalistic consortium European Investigative Collaborations
France/Ukraine : France's ex-military intelligence chief helps French defence companies on visit to Ukraine
Jean-François Ferlet, the former head of French military intelligence, stood in last minute for Patrick Gaillard, the head of the
Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 4: Moscow deploys its Bylina data fusion system
Moscow has begun the large-scale deployment of its new electronic warfare data fusion system Bylina, a project six years in
Egypt/United States : Senator Bob Menendez is in the news f...nd Baghdad's military equipment goals via more formal channels
If the charges recently unveiled by the Justice Department against Bob Menendez are confirmed in court, Egypt couldn't have had a
Taiwan : Taiwanese interior minister launches drive to open more air raid shelters
Faced with a major increase in the number of Chinese incursions off the coast of Taiwan, Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is pressing Interior Minister Lin Yu-chan to revive plans to bui...
France/Iran/United States : Paris and Washington attempt to quash nascent narrative of Iranian involvement in Hamas offensive
At an informal meeting with journalists on the situation in the Middle East on 14 October, Emmanuel Bonne, the foreign
China : Greater political and security centralisation on the way for New Silk Roads programme
The eight-point plan announced by President Xi Jinping at the summit for the New Silk Roads (Belt & Road Initiative,
France/Moldova/United Kingdom/United States : CIA acquisiti...aining centre, Moldova fights fake news, lustration in Ukraine
United States - Leadership change afoot in CIA acquisitions officeThe CIA's Office of Acquisition Management (OAM), a Directorate of Digital
France/Russia : France's Legrand makes tough choice between sanctions and local mafia in sale of Russian assets
The French electrical parts company Legrand issued a statement on 12 October announcing it had sold its activities in Russia,
Ukraine : Kyiv sets up excellence centre for autonomous intelligence systems
The Ukrainian ministries of defence and digital transformation, led by Rustem Umerov and Mykhailo Fedorov respectively, are currently building a
Netherlands/United States : Mintz offers its services in polarised ICC judicial elections
The election of six new International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, to take place from 4 to 7 December, will for
Israel/Russia/Syria : Western spy agencies worried by Russian delivery of Israeli-designed drones to Syria
In the next few days, Russia is set to deliver nine Forpost-M intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones to the Hmeimim military base that it controls in Syria, according to infor...
Colombia/Switzerland/United States : Glencore's Covert Ops ...ol Risks' intelligence operation against mining firm's critics
As Intelligence Online revealed yesterday, Glencore for years ran a massive intelligence operation against the Swiss giant's critics in Colombia
Malaysia/Palestine : Kuala Lumpur, a Hamas rear base more active than ever
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan gave his lecture on "Palestinian resistance since 2021" at a conference at the Asia Middle
France/Saudi Arabia : Café Chic, the nightclub for young Saudi officials in Paris
The benevolent gaze of English actor Roger Moore in the role of James Bond next to a Kalashnikov lamp in
Hong Kong : Dong Jingwei, the Xi Jinping confidant watching over Hong Kong security
Dong Jingwei waited until this 2 October to make his first public appearance and detail his security plans for Hong
India/Indonesia : Indonesia eyes monitoring technology from India's L&T for new capital
An Indonesian delegation visited New Delhi's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) during the Smart Cities India Expo on 27-28
Cyprus/UAE : Data fusion specialist TRG sets up shop in UAE
Cyprus-based data analytics specialist TRG Research and Development is remodelling. The company, run by Israeli entrepreneur Oren Jack Feldmann, has
China/Israel/Palestine : Guoanbu keen to host closed-door meeting in Beijing to discuss Israel and Palestine
The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guoanbu) is setting up a meeting to be held today in Beijing
Ukraine/United States : Pentagon contractor Sentry View Systems taps Ukrainian surveillance market
Brandy Foster's Ohio-based consultancy Mintovate is lobbying the US federal authorities on behalf of British company Amulus Security, which wants
France/Japan/Russia/United Kingdom : Ex-Suneris's Caraes at..., Nihon Cyber Defence hires Habeshaw, Operation Zero opens R&D
Paris: ChapsVision poaches Suneris's presales director CaraesFrench big data specialist ChapsVision has further expanded its government contracts subsidiary ChapsVision CyberGov (ex-Flandrin Tech...
France/Switzerland : France's Michel Arditti takes SCSWORLD security tools around the globe
French entrepreneur Michel Arditti is busy building business for his Swiss-based security company Securewyse Consulting and Services (SCSWORLD) in the Gulf.
Russia/United States : US Deripaska investigation, part 2: ... used former FBI agent to pursue an Austrian construction firm
As the FBI continues to probe all of its former special agents who became private investigators and worked for the
Colombia/United States : Glencore's Covert Ops in Colombia,...e monitored and infiltrated opponents of its mining activities
For the past month, Colombian president Gustavo Petro has been seeking to find a "concerted exit" from Colombia for Glencore, the Swiss-based mining and trading giant, that previously announced i...
France : Frogtrust's difficulties prompt reorganisation of Cristal Group's cyber activities
Former DGSE technical director Yves Mathian is poised to leave former lawyer Kevin Rivaton's corporate intelligence firm Cristal Group, whose cyber subsidiary,
United Kingdom/United States : Sastre, Kroll, HKA, JS Held, Guidepost
London - Eastern Europe-focused Sastre Consulting beefs up investigation practiceSastre Consulting, which specialises in due diligence, asset tracing and litigation
France : France's DRSD strained by load of sensitive defence-related site inspections
Latest figures in France's draft 2024 budget show that the rate of inspections carried out by the Defence Intelligence and
Russia/Ukraine/United Kingdom : Russia-Ukraine tensions drive launch of London investigations firm Neo Forensics
Neo Forensics, the freshly launched investigations firm registered in London under the NFTech Investments UK monicker, is the latest venture
Pakistan : Miran International, supplier to Pakistan's embattled intelligence services
Nadeem Anjum's (IO, 02/09/22) recent reappointment as head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) until September 2024 should mean more steady
France/Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 3: French systems lagging behind
Kyiv is questioning how to solve the maintenance issues relating to French defence electronics group Thales's radar and electronic warfare
Russia/United States : US Deripaska investigation, part 1 : Deripaska used former FBI agent to surveil Russian banker
The FBI continues to probe all of its former special agents who became private investigators and worked for the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The Bureau in January arrested Charles McGonigal, ...
United Kingdom : Alaco and Dentons Global Advisors discreetly struggle for talent
The London-based intelligence division of Dentons Global Advisors (DGA) launched in May in London is going from strength to strength.
United States : Washington squares up to consequences of Israeli intelligence failures
Hamas's surprise attack against Israel on 7 October, and its regional consequences, have plunged the US into an unexpected crisis
France : French ex-spies charged for compromising national defence see their book sales soar
Two former senior members of France's external intelligence service, the DGSE, who faced charges three weeks apart for compromising French
UAE : Ali Al Mannaei, from Darkmatter cyber business developer to security provider
In his new role with Swiss-Swedish cryptography specialist Asperiq's Dubai office, French businessman Lionel Germond will be able to draw on his
Germany/Ukraine : Jamming wars, part 2: Aaronia and Rohde & Schwarz, German electronic warfare heavyweights in Ukraine
Significant supplies of equipment and technology are currently being delivered to Kyiv by the German interception (SIGINT) and electronic warfare
France/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Riyadh to ask for Rafale quote as Typhoon order remains in limbo
Saudi Arabia will shortly ask Dassault Aviation to make an official offer for a contract to acquire Rafale fighter aircraft, according to information we have gathered in Riyadh, London and Paris....
Israel : Hamas offensive: beyond flaws in strategic analysis, tactical intelligence technologies in question
Was it a system failure following a cyber attack, a power cut or internal betrayal at a section of the
Ukraine : 2024 elections: Kyiv kingmakers split over potential Zaluzhnyi candidacy
The sensitive issue of who might succeed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (IO, 13/10/23) is raising some hackles among the security
France/Russia/Ukraine : Darmanin calls off Saudi trip, Krem... messages, Irsem, Reznikov's future, Universities in Hong Kong
France - No trip to Riyadh for interior minister Darmanin The French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin should have been
Israel/United States : Hamas attack in Gaza puts US imagery rules to the test
Satellite imagery tracking of the Hamas attack launched on 7 October is the first large-scale test for commercial Earth observation
Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Jamming wars, part 1: US and UK at the forefront of Ukrainian electronic warfare
The US electronic warfare specialist SPX Technologies, headed by Gene Lowe, and the UK company BAE Systems, are currently working
China : State Security directs its grand influence strategy towards the Global South
The New Silk Roads summit (Belt & Road Initiative, BRI, or One Belt One Road, OBOR, IO, 11/07/23), which is due to open in Beijing tomorrow, will have the task of organising a new grand influence...
France : Risk & Co takeover: Amarante and SSF compete for security and cyber courted in asset by asset sale
Bidders for the takeover of security and business intelligence company Risk & Co, once an industry flagship but which has
Ukraine : Kyiv powers that be discreetly prepare for possible 2024 elections
It's a topic that keeps cropping up within the Ukrainian political establishment, but is also irritating: the possibility of presidential
Saudi Arabia : Mohammed bin Salman to turn his Vision 2030 into Vision 2040
Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) is hoping to make his mark at the 7th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII)
Japan/Philippines : US, Japan and Philippines in three-way radar data collection alliance against China
According to sources close to the Japanese defense ministry, a tacit accord between the Philippines and Japan underpins the Japanese
China/France/Ukraine : Ukraine faces tough choice between drones from China's DJI or France's Parrot
In the midst of the technological war of attrition in Ukraine, to stem heavy tactical drone losses on the Ukrainian
France/Russia : Café Michel, Moscow haven for remaining Franco-Russian trade networks
Just a few blocks from Russian government offices, café-restaurant Michel remains a favourite haunt of Moscow-based businesspeople, particularly members of
UAE : The Al Mubaraks, a clan devoted to serving Abu Dhabi's most secret interests
The rare Abu Dhabi official to have made a cameo in a US series, in this case the 2022 drama
Germany/Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan : German-Russian business stalwart Klaus Mangold prepares the path for his heir
Business diplomat Klaus Mangold, a key player in German-Russian business relations, who was for a long time chairman of Rothschild
United States : Kroll investigates pro-Trump Chinese businessman's assets
Kroll has been retained to handle forensic investigations into the assets of indicted Chinese businessman Guo Wengui during his bankruptcy
United States : US State Department's intelligence service speeds up transformation to increase influence on diplomacy
Intelligence Online's sources say the US State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) has launched a substantially upgraded version
China : Chinese Communist Party uses CICC investment bank to boost New Silk Roads
During the last two months, according to our sources, the China International Capital Corp (CICC, IO, 07/07/23), the country's largest
European Union/France/Italy : EDA seeks C5ISTAR tech, Shuman joins Dataflow Security, Share My Space lands French contract
Brussels: EDA to invest in intelligence technologyThe European Union is pursuing its investments in Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence,
France : Artemis military intelligence programme gets 2024 budget boost
The latest adjustments to the French government's budget projections, which were sent to members of parliament at the end of
Italy/Taiwan : As Rome exits Silk Roads project, Italy's defence industry readies for Taiwanese adventure
As Georgia Meloni's government negotiates Italy's withdrawal from the New Silk Roads project (aka One Belt One Road) with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), secret parallel talks with the United ...
France : Budget documents confirm French intelligence services' construction fever
Work on the future new headquarters of the French external intelligence service, the DGSE, is due to get under way
Finland : Tero Vauraste, opening up the Arctic markets for Intelligence industries
Describing himself as a "Human Icebreaker", Tero Vauraste was one of the key speakers for a delegation from the International
France : ChapsVision makes push into OSINT market
French big data company ChapsVision is bidding to be a force in the French open source intelligence, or OSINT, market
Tajikistan/United States : Washington warms to feared Tajik security chief as his influence grows
In dismissing a September 26 report that accused the Tajik government of using loosely-defined anti-terrorism laws to crush dissent, the first deputy interior minister Abdurahmon Alamshozoda said...
United Kingdom/United States : G3, Nardello, KCS
London - Valeria Bondareva joins G3 Consultant Valeria Bondareva has recently joined Michael Bevan and Nick Alcock's Good Governance Group (G3),
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/corporate-intelligence/2023/10/11/g3-nardello-kcs,110064589-art
United Kingdom : Kate Lampard, the veteran health sector investigator
Since taking up the chair of the National Health Service (NHS) Essex mental health inquiry team in early September, Baroness
France : Société Générale: security chief Antoine Creux's succession in limbo
While his departure has been rumoured in the close-knit security sector for months, the question of who will succeed Antoine
United Kingdom : Geopolitics weigh on UK space observation ambitions
For the first time, on 29 September, the UK Space Command director Ben Sharp visited the production site of observation
France : Ministry of Defence think tank descends into crisis
The scientific director of France's Institute for Strategic Research, the IRSEM, Julia Grignon, resigned on 6 October from the Ministry of Defence think tank.
Hungary/United States : Claremont Institute fellow David Reaboi discloses lobbying activities for Hungary's Orban
David Reaboi, a senior fellow at the right-wing Claremont Institute, belatedly revealed previously unreported details of his past work for Hungary's
Finland/Norway/United Kingdom : Europe's Arctic states aim to boost intelligence cooperation with UK
Norway seems particularly keen to boost its intelligence cooperation with Britain. Finland, which has just joined the NATO alliance, also
Europe/UAE : Tighter European export regulations hit Thales, open window for UAE's Tawazun
The UAE part publicly owned defence company Tawazun is poised and ready to export its Al Tair missiles to a
Brazil/UAE : Abu Dhabi kick starts spending spree in Brazil
EDGE Group's acquisition of a 50% share in Brazilian precision-guided munitions manufacturer Sistemas Integrados de Alto Teor Tecnologico (SIATT) on 29 September is only the first step in Abu Dha...
China/Czech Republic/France/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom/Uni... : MbS and Sunak, OIS/Russia, Prague's VZ, NCSC audit, Tracfin
Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom - MbS refuses terms of his London visitSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has declined British
China/United States : MSS monitors Tsinghua's US student exchange programmes
The Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guoanbu) recently asked the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) unit at Tsinghua University to
Vietnam : Vietnamese defence ministry poised to finalise F-16 order
According to our information, the Vietnamese defence ministry is in very advanced talks with US defence giant Lockheed Martin over
Taiwan/Ukraine : Taiwanese tech groups go into action in Ukraine
Taiwan has been giving Ukraine increasing support in recent months and Taiwanese companies have been extending their presence in the
Russia : Wagner group splits into two plus one
As we understand, no fewer than three new entities are to take on board the resources of paramilitary group Wagner. It has taken the Kremlin more than three months, following the mutiny and presu...
Russia/Switzerland : Part 3: Swiss fund Horizon Capital AG keeps mum about debts owed by sanctioned oligarch
Small Swiss-Luxembourg asset management firm Horizon Capital AG has a debt on its balance sheet it would rather forget. That's because
France : DGSE recruitment drive hampered by security vetting procedures
Even Bernard Emie, the diplomat who is the DGSE's director general, recognises the fact. Last April, before a parliamentary committee,
United States : New York Fed clashes with Puerto Rican bank over K2 Integrity guidance
Banco San Juan Internacional (BSJI) expects to score some points against the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at a
Ukraine/United States : Legion volunteer and private security provider Matthew Parker leaves Ukraine
US Army veteran and private security provider Matthew Parker is leaving western Ukraine after completing two lengthy deployments as a
Iraq/Lebanon : Lebanese entrepreneur Ziad Monla vies to fill Iraqi defence's critical communications needs
The Iraqi ministry of defence wants to create a mission-critical communications cellular network shared by the country's security and intelligence
Taiwan : Li Bai, the lounge where Taiwan's China-compatible opposition dines and strategises
Tucked away in the Shangri-La hotel in Taipei's Da'an district is the small Li Bai lounge, named after the famous
France : Former French senator Yannick Vaugrenard: a pioneer of intelligence service oversight
Intelligence stalwart Yannick Vaugrenard came to the end of his 12 years as a senator on 1 October, having emptied
Italy : Italian cyber fills gaps left by France, Israel
Fabio Romani's Italian cyber-intelligence company IPS is continuing to expand in Africa, having recently sold its Medusa open source intelligence
Japan : Sasakawa president Atsushi Sunami, Kishida's not-so-unofficial Indo-Pacific scout
Atsushi Sunami, president of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), seems to go wherever Prime Minister Fumio Kishida goes, following him
Russia/Switzerland : Part 2: Ilya Milton, the trader at the heart of Swiss fund SCCF's Russian network
The disputes pitting Swiss-Luxembourg investment fund Structured Commodity & Corporate Finance (SCCF, see part one in IO, 04/10/23) against Russian
Hungary/United Kingdom : Central European investigation firms break out of their traditional area
London-based corporate intelligence firm Millennium Emerging Europe has taken on a new investigator in the person of Frances Lee-Forbes. The
United States : CIA accused of ageism by sacked analyst
The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have until 25 October to prepare their defence against
South Korea/Vietnam : Viettel seeks South Korean help to build better drones
Nguyen Van Nhu, a drone expert at the Viettel Aerospace Institute (VTX), is trying to negotiate formal cooperation in this
Europe/Germany/United States : CAE and DEA for Frontex, 5150 Labs in the UAE, Incredity bows out, ChapsVision buys Owlint
Warsaw: CAE Aviation and DEA Aviation back to FrontexCAE Aviation is back in the running for European contracts. The Luxembourg-based
United States : Titan-Geo in Latin American geolocation race
The US firm Titan-Geo is one of a number of geolocation firms that will be out in force in the Latin
France/Germany/United States : Despite risks, defence AI firms turn to low-cost subcontractors to label data
Intelligence Online understands that the German company Hensoldt is finalising a strategic partnership with the American company Netra, an alliance that brings to the fore how crucial data labell...
France/Saudi Arabia : Suez and Veolia security consultant Franck Galland gives Riyadh another try
After the 2023 edition of the annual Aqua Sûreté forum in Nimes on 21 September, former French Army officer Franck Galland
France/United Kingdom/United States : G3, Chris Morgan Jones, Corexalys, Red Five Security, Keith Hunter, Arte
London - G3 nets record yearAccording to its latest results, published 27 September, corporate intelligence provider Good Governance Group (G3)
Iraq/United States : Iraqi Kurds lobby hard in Washington despite political crisis at home
Parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan may well be long delayed, leading political groups continue to dig deep in their pockets
Russia : Roman Trotsenko to use foreign flag ships to export coal to China via Northern Sea Route
Businessman Roman Trotsenko has been granted an exemption from Russian merchant navy regulations to help him to carry out his
Russia/Switzerland : Part 1: Swiss pillar of Russian finance Horizon Capital AG struggles with Moscow assets
The Moscow Court of Arbitration is on 15 November to hear a dispute between Swiss-Luxembourg investment fund Horizon Capital AG,
United States : SPAC Chain Bridge implosion threatens to dash intelligence officers' dreams
The investment fund Chain Bridge I, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) whose key officers and advisers include many intelligence and national security veterans, delisted warrants it had...
Russia : Russia's Tsar's Wolves, the Wagner of technology testing, gets busy on battlefield in Ukraine
The private Russian paramilitary group Tsar's Wolves has started to test drones and combat robots designed for intelligence gathering on
France/Italy : Cy4gate seeks French interceptions licence
Italian cyber-intelligence firm Cy4gate is working to get its accreditation from France's R226 committee, Intelligence Online's sources say. The committee,
Japan/United Kingdom/United States : The corporate intelligence heavyweights who are leaving JS Held
The global investigations department of the consulting firm JS Held has continued to shrink in recent times. At the end
France : Regional corporate intelligence plans back in French Senate
French senators are currently poring over a corporate intelligence bill which provides for the setting up of dedicated corporate intelligence
Bahrain/United States : BGR boosts new security deal betwee...and Bahrain as part of its lobbying work for the Gulf monarchy
Almost as soon as the ink dried on a new agreement between the US and Bahrain to deepen security ties,
Ukraine : Lobbying, intelligence: Ukraine reshapes anti-oligarch approach
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) is to leave the country's planned oligarchs' register in the hands of the
Azerbaijan/Israel : Baku thanks Mossad and Israeli military over Nagorno-Karabakh victory
Hours after their crushing victory in Nagorno-Karabakh on 20 September, Azerbaijan's military and security command thanked their Israeli counterparts, Intelligence
Vietnam : Ex-commando Pham Ngoc Phuc promotes French business in Vietnam
Intelligence Online's sources say that Vietnamese special forces veteran Pham Ngoc Phuc is helping to market optronics from France's Safran
Philippines/Saudi Arabia/UAE : Filipino experts work on Gulf states' most sensitive intelligence programmes
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is likely to receive a particularly warm welcome from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) when he visits Riyadh in the coming days for the ASEAN-GCC (A...
China/France/Israel/Taiwan/United Kingdom : French Senate, Taipei, AUKUS, Houthis
France - DGSE monitors battle for chair of French Senate foreign affairs and defence commissionAt least three right-wing senators are
China/United States : Yuan Yi Kun, strategist for Guoanbu's new US approach
The campaign launched on the WeChat platform by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guoanbu, IO, 18/11/22) calling
France : DGSE launches legal action against second ex-spy over memoir
Should Jean-Francois Lhuillier, a now retired lieutenant-colonel in the army's transportation corps, prepare himself for a dawn call from the
Nato : NATO cyber information sharing soon to be enhanced with threat intelligence tool
NATO has just launched consultations with a view to potentially acquiring tailored cyber threat intelligence (CTI) products. The solution will
Netherlands : Ukraine war casts shadow over International Court of Justice judges' election
With five judges due to be elected to the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 9 November, the re-election of Russia's Kirill Gevorgian is far from certain because of the long l...
United States : K2 mourns co-founder Alan Bernikow
In an email sent on the evening of Thursday, 28 September to employees and others close to the company, K2 Integrity, Jules Kroll and his son Jeremy Kroll announced the death of New York sector v...
Qatar/United Kingdom : Qatari sport provides brisk business to investigator lords
Horse racing enthusiast Conservative Lord Daniel Hannan, Lord Hannan of Kingsclere, kept up with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,
France/Sweden : Emmanuel Macron handed defence shopping list for visit to Sweden
The French defence ministry is focusing on the security aspects of President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Stockholm in a few
Russia : Vladimir Grishechkin, Russian submarine intelligence's master spy in the ocean depths
He is one of the Russians most closely followed by American intelligence and, yet, very little is known about him.
Cambodia : Victoria Angkor, hit by anti-corruption probe in Paris, and more sought after than ever by Cambodian top brass
The wide footpaths, wooded park and swimming pool of the luxury Victoria Angkor hotel in the heart of Siem Reap
China : Beijing ring-fences sensitive universities
According to our information, Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Ningbo and Jiao-tong University in Shanghai will be the next to
Ukraine/United States : Arizona's cosy defence relationship with Kyiv
Far from disagreements in Washington, the private sector in traditionally conservative Arizona is increasingly involved with Ukraine, signing deals with
France/Taiwan : Taiwan receives French electronic warfare training
France's Défense Conseil International (DCI) recently sent a group of trainers to Taiwan to teach Republic of China Air Force
France/West Africa : Suneris's African contracts in turmoil
The coup d'état in Gabon that toppled President Ali Bongo on 30 August delivered another harsh blow to the French
Malaysia/United Kingdom/United States : Malaysian 1MDB scandal has created many career opportunities in private investigation
"Man on the Run", a documentary on the 1Malaysia Development (1MDB), $1.8bn sovereign wealth fund embezzlement scandal, ends its month-long
France/Qatar : France's Abak Systèmes to supply electronic warfare tools to Qatar
Abak Systèmes, based in Bruz, a French technical intelligence hub on the outskirts of Brittany's Rennes, recently signed a contract
United States : Former NSC official Evan Medeiros finds fortune in corporate board positions
The share price of Gorilla Technology Group Inc tanked by one quarter on 20 September after the company announced it
Russia : Russia's security apparatus split on immigrants in army
Inter-ethnic relations are back in the spotlight at the highest level in Moscow, as the Kremlin struggles to recruit hundreds
Cambodia : Against backdrop of regional rivalries, Cambodia's new police chief puts stamp on internal security
General Sar Thet has been making his mark since his appointment as Cambodia's new national police chief, in August, freezing
Lebanon : Georges Jamhouri brings in good business for French defence in the Middle East
The recent delivery of semi-rigid speed boats manufactured by French shipbuilder Sillinger to the Bahrain coastguard owes a great deal
Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Private security veteran John Holmes has eyes on Ukraine
Retired British General John Holmes, commander of the 22nd Regiment of the Special Air Service (SAS) from 1989 to 1992
France/United States : France's DGSE turns to LLM, US cracks down on cyber industry, Preligens' Rennes changes
Paris: French intelligence service focuses on Large Language Models The DGSE, France's external intelligence service, is looking to beef up its
United States : Who's who in the Disruptive Technology Strike Force set to counter cyber attacks from overseas
Countering cyber attacks by foreign adversaries and terrorists has become a leading priority to the US, FBI Director Christopher Wray said at a conference in Washington, DC on 18 September. He po...
France : US intelligence and defence advisory firm Renaissance sets up in France
The champagne is already chilled for the 16 October launch of the Paris offices of Renaissance Strategic Advisors (RSA), which
China/Vietnam : Beijing tightens security in Guangxi province on Vietnam border
On 18 September, the Chinese authorities in the provinces bordering Vietnam launched two calls for tender to equip the strategic
Russia/Ukraine : Petr Konyushenko, Russia's new energy honcho in Donbass
The private company Energosbyt Donetsk will begin supplying Donetsk with electricity on 1 October, extending the regional reach of its
Europe/Israel : Intellexa builds new cyber-intelligence empire thanks to rivals' dropped contracts
Tal Dilian, the former director of Israel's technical intelligence Unit 8100, is for the time being perhaps the only Israeli
China/Taiwan/United States : From opposite sides, Tapei and Beijing both lobbying for African American support
Empire Consulting Group, a self-described "minority-owned public policy consulting firm," is seeking to build support for Taipei among African Americans even as China has a Washington lobby shop ...
France/United Kingdom/United States : Avisa parties, Alexandre Benalla in London, Strider Technologies, T&M USA
London - Avisa's relaunch partiesTo celebrate its transformation into Forward Global, Avisa Partners has planned a party at Andia restaurant
China/France : Macron awards Legion of Honour to pillar of Beijing's influence in France
At a most discreet ceremony at the Elysée Palace on 19 September, French President Emmanuel Macron awarded the rank of
Europe : On the Ukrainian trail of the Nord Stream saboteurs
Police and intelligence services in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland and even Russia have for the past year been working on
Taiwan/United States : Huang and Chen, the Kuomintang's deft Washington duo
When the Taiwanese opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party's candidate in next January's presidential elections Hou Yu-ih visited the United States this
France : DGSE's sacking of defiant official on internal security grounds overruled in court
The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal inflicted a major defeat on the DGSE, France's external intelligence service, on 15 September,
France/UAE : French-UAE misunderstanding over Airbus Caracal deal explained
Airbus Group is hoping to resume trade talks with the United Arab Emirates's military technology transfer agency Tawazun over the
France/Middle East : Thales reshuffles senior Gulf execs to strengthen connections with SAMI and Tawazun
Bernard Roux is poised to move across from his position as Thales's CEO in Abu Dhabi very soon to replace
United Kingdom : British ex-military intel chief Osborn moves into ESG transactions and investigations
Retired Air Vice Marshal Philip Osborn, who headed Britain's Defence Intelligence (DI) service in 2015-2018, is joining the advisory board
Ukraine/United Kingdom : SBS mentors Kyiv's special operations in the Black Sea
Members of the 801st Separate Detachment of Combat Swimmers, part of the 73rd Naval Centre of Special Operations commanded by Captain Sergey Sundukov are currently training with the British Speci...
Canada/Singapore : Canadian cyber specialist Octasic does business in Singapore via Kuan Fook Sing
Like many cyber-intelligence firms drawn to Singapore's business opportunities, the Canadian geolocation specialist Octasic is on the look-out for contracts
France : Nuances Technologies leads race to supply anti-drone jammers to French interior ministry
Nuances Technologies, a French electronic warfare company headed by Jacques Ganem, is well on its way to supplying anti-drone jammers
Russia : FSB on alert as Wagner fighters head home
Russia's state security service, the FSB, and in particular the 2nd service, the SZKSBT (IO, 28/06/23), is closely monitoring the
France/United States : Bernard Squarcini's contracts now in the hands of the FBI
Referred to the magistrates court in early September for his dealings with luxury giant LVMH, Bernard Squarcini, the former head
North Korea/Russia : Russian tax authorities watchful of counter-proliferation issues with Pyongyang
While the meeting between the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin in Russia earlier this month alerted the
Belarus/China/Israel/Russia/United States : Voatz vs Minsk, Russkiy Mir, biometric controls in Israel, Wang Yi in DC
US/Belarus - Belarusian opposition in talks with secure online voting platform VoatzThe former senior civil servant and exiled opponent to
Czech Republic : Excalibur Army marches on as Europe's ubiquitous arms broker
Arms supplier Excalibur Army was recently approached by the Indonesian authorities to take over the financing of the Bell 412
France : DGSE blues: French agency under fire from all sides
Earlier last week on 18 September, the French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu and the head of France's external intelligence agency, the DGSE, Bernard Emie, appeared before the parliamentary ...
United States : The Jeff Shockey Story: From Washington sta... player in congressional scandals and back again with Raytheon
Not long ago Jeff Shockey was being investigated over his role in multiple political scandals as a congressional staffer and lobbyist, but
United States : Behind competition with China, SilentBarker spy satellite reveals rivalries between US agencies
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) broke with its usual discretion for the launch of its geostationary orbit satellite monitoring system
Russia/Singapore : Ammertex, a gateway for FSB surveillance service providers' imports in Singapore
Ammertex, a small firm registered in Singapore since 2009, has been busy of late trying to cater to its Russian
Azerbaijan/Turkey : Turkey's Aselsan equips Azerbaijan with state-of-the-art electronic warfare equipment
Turkey is supplying the Ilgar electronic warfare system manufactured by the Turkish consortium Aselsan to Azerbaijan's armed forces. The equipment,
Hungary : Jozsef Kovacs, Viktor Orban's discreet right-hand security man
With war raging on Hungary's doorstep, former military intelligence chief Jozsef Kovacs is establishing himself as a central but discreet
Austria : Café Schwarzenberg, an old-fashioned meeting place for Austria's intelligence rebirth
In Vienna, where Western spymasters and their counterparts come in from the cold have traditionally met, agents from the Austrian
United States : NSA latest US intelligence agency to start public shift on China
In a rare appearance before the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), on 12 September the NSA's Assistant Deputy Director
United Kingdom : Former GPW teams remind JS Held of their valuable clientele
Investigators at the London office of corporate intelligence firm JS Held UK, formerly GPW and a subsidiary of US firm
Ukraine : Western private operators help reshape Ukraine's military industrial conglomerate
In the wake of the scandal that led to defence minister Olexi Reznikov's recent sacking as defence minister, Ukraine's state-owned
France/Singapore/UAE/United States : Snowpack goes global, Beacon Red in Singapore, MIL Corp helps NAWCAD in cyber
Paris: Snowpack turns to RB 42 for international business developmentAccording to our sources, French start-up Snowpack is turning its attention
Russia : Atlas, encryptor-in-chief to Kremlin and intelligence services
Moscow-based IT security company Atlas (whose full name is Scientific and Technical Centre Atlas) will continue handling security on the
Ukraine/United States : NATO experts and Ukrainian drone operators hold secret meeting
NATO drone specialists attended a secret meeting at the alliance's base in Kalkar, Germany, to receive feedback from drone warfare operators fresh from the Ukrainian battlefield. The meeting, at ...
Vietnam : Vietnam friendship associations seek to bolster influence abroad
Vietnam's powerful ministry of public security (MPS) has signalled its desire to reactivate the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO)
United Kingdom : Schillings uses EU's GDPR data protection law against private investigation rivals
Investigator Abby Stanglin, previously with Kroll then K2 Integrity, and most recently the London office of Nardello & Co (IO, 30/08/23),
France/United Kingdom/United States : Tikehau , Nardello, Alaco, Avisa
Paris/London - French fund Tikehau invests in UK corporate intelligence with AntithesisFrench investment fund Tikehau Capital, very active in French
United States : The conservative push against the surveillance law
The Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability (PPSA), a self-described nonpartisan group led almost exclusively by conservatives, has emerged as a
France/Saudi Arabia : Gérald Darmanin's Riyadh visit completes Macron ministers' Saudi tour
Whether the Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin will travel to Riyadh on the 7, 9 or 15 October, the provisionally most
Czech Republic/Lebanon : Jihad El Annan Part II: The Czech Connection
The Czech Republic's Independence Day on 28 October may well provide an opportunity for Jihad El Annan to sponsor a
France : ISO 27001 certification infuriates would-be Cyber III suppliers
The French interior ministry has recently told candidates for France's Cyber III 4-year cyber investment plan (IO, 12/06/23) that they will
United States : Corporate intel firms snap up national security talents ahead of election campaign
WestExec Advisors announced on 12 September that it had hired retired General Richard Clarke as a Principal, one of a number of recent moves by Washington corporate intelligence and consulting fi...
Armenia/Azerbaijan : Baku hits back at former ICC prosecutor turned Karabagh consultant's genocide accusations
The rise in tensions between Yerevan and Baku in the wake of the US-Armenian Eagle Partner joint military exercises from
Afghanistan/China : New Chinese ambassador to Kabul lands strong security brief
The negotiations that led to the new Chinese ambassador to Kabul Zhao Xing taking up his new role on 13
France : Intelligence services watchdog taps into Socialist Party networks
To renew his team, the president of the French security services watchdog CNCTR Serge Lasvignes has tapped into the French Socialist Party networks.
Israel/Vietnam : Rafael's Spyder proposal nixed by Vietnamese Air Force amid military procurement shifts
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems's proposal for the sale of two Spyder missile systems to Vietnam was turned down by the
Lebanon : Jihad El Annan, once connected to pro-Hezbollah circles, supplies Lebanese intelligence
Jihad El Annan is expected to attend Milipol, the security trade fair in Paris on 14-17 November. The businessman heads
Indonesia : Bell collateral victim of pre-electoral defence business wars in Indonesia
The $675m sale of 32 Bell 412 helicopters that subsidiary Textron was supposed to deliver to Indonesia has been put
Russia : Vladislav Buzdin, a Russian master in tactical intelligence AI
In the midst of the rush to develop object recognition algorithms for reconnaissance drones, the crux of the intelligence war
France/Ukraine : Ukraine inches closer to obtaining French Mirage
A Ukrainian Air Force delegation recently visited France and was taken to see the Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000 Ukraine is hoping to receive from France, Intelligence Online has learned. Ukraine ...
Belarus/Europe : Belarusian dissidents vie for access to European decision-makers
Former high-ranking Belarusian official and exiled opposition figure Valery Tsepkalo (IO, 19/07/23) appeared before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
France : The high stakes of DGSI big data programme delays
After yet another postponement (IO, 13/09/23) to phase two of French internal security service DGSI's big data analytics platform, the
France : French defence services company's takeover manoeuvring takes political turn
French corporate intelligence firm ADIT's takeover bid of military services company Défense Conseil International (DCI) is entering its final stretch,
France/Qatar : Nexter-Arquus infantry fighting vehicle on agenda for Al Thani-Macron talks
Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's visit to Paris at the end of this month will focus on defence issues.
Armenia/Azerbaijan/China/France/Russia : Vladimir Osechkin, French military attaché in Yerevan, new Belt & Road preparations
France/Russia - Communicator Vladimir Osechkin exposed for false defector evacuationsRussian entrepreneur Vladimir Osechkin, who resides in the French city of Biarritz,
Turkey/Ukraine : Technical cooperation between Kyiv and Ankara under strain
Ukraine's armed forces and its defence ministry's intelligence agency, the GUR, recently decided to drastically scale back the communication channels
Europe/Vietnam : Germany nixes latest move in Vietnam's anti-corruption campaign
Intelligence Online has learned that Germany is refusing to extradite a Vietnamese woman convicted in absentia in connection with corruption
Russia/Ukraine : Moscow gets ahead in race to analyse equipment captured on the battlefield
Western defence attachés in Moscow were keen to point out that some of the equipment captured in theatre and displayed as war trophies at the Army 2023 Moscow defence exhibition was of particula...
United States : Ethics board investigates politicians' free use of GOP donor's private plane
Oil heir Greg Mosing's no-cost provision of his private jet to political officials is under investigation by the Louisiana Board of
Russia/United States : Miami Vice: local strip clubs, honey pots for mobsters, under watch
As longtime hotbeds of mob activity, arms deals, money laundering, drug trafficking and other crimes, Miami strip clubs are obvious
Lebanon : Lebanese telecom tycoon Joe Zoghzoghi tries hand at defence
In search of partnerships with companies specialised in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, Joe Zoghzoghi (whose surname is
Russia : R&D centre Cyclone drives Moscow's intelligence algorithm gains
In its efforts to catch up in the field of automatic imagery analysis of intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) drones,
United States : Disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard's libel prosecution may have hacking-for-hire epilogue
There appears to be still more mileage in discoveries made by lawyers and private investigators working for Kazakh mining group
Vietnam : Vietnam spymaster Hung banks on military intelligence tech to counter public security rivals
While Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh might lose his job amid rampant tensions within the government (IO 30/08/22), spymaster Pham
Pakistan : Islamabad prepares to receive Turkish Akinci observation drone in Murid
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is rushing to make sure its infrastructure at the Murid air base, near the border
China/Italy : Italy's Silk Road withdrawal poses conundrum for Meloni's China agenda
Scheduled for the third week of September, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's trip to Beijing appears to be compromised by internal
Germany/Poland/Romania/United States : Pentagon to renew contracts of Eastern Europe port service providers
The US Department of Defense is to spend some $16m over five years for port services in Gdynia, just outside
United Kingdom : Space-obsessed British lawmaker Mark Garnier enters thermal imagery race
The consultancy business has been booming for Mark Garnier, a British Conservative MP passionate about space. On 1 September, he
France/Georgia/Israel/Italy/Russia/Uruguay : Russia updates...orter's new clients, Israel's Cognyte equips Italy's gendarmes
Moscow: Ruselectronics unveils new version of GEOINT data fusion tool Russia is updating its data fusion platform Akatsiya (IO, 27/07/23). Work
Europe/Montenegro/Russia : Exiled oligarch Ismailov's hidden assets rekindle Russia-Montenegro tensions
Moscow has been discreetly signaling to the Montenegrin authorities its renewed interest in extraditing fugitive Russian businessman Telman Ismailov, who
Japan : Japan's imagery shortfall undermines monitoring of Russia-China action around Kuril Islands
The Japanese ministry of foreign affairs' secret team of diplomats and intelligence officers created to anticipate Russian-Chinese movements in the Kuril Islands is still waiting for a cheap sate...
United States : Kroll at centre of Bulgari heiresses' bitter family feud over $129m trust
With lawyers for two battling sisters from the Bulgari family informing a judge that the parties had settled their differences
United Kingdom : A year after Downing Street ouster, Liz Truss's former advisers settle into private sector roles
Britain's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which vets public servants' activities in the private sector, signed off in August
Greece/Ukraine : Oil shipping firms at centre of tensions between Ukraine and Greece
Diplomats on both sides have been discreetly duelling in the wake of the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and
Slovakia/Ukraine : Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine hangs in electoral balance
Ukraine's ambassador to Slovakia, Myroslav Kastran, is poised to sign an agreement for the free transfer of military equipment between
Austria/United Kingdom/United States : Alaco, StoneTurn, Gravamen, FTI
London - Alaco's James Birkett and Austen Josephs join DentonsAfter more than fourteen years with Alaco, investigator James Birkett will
United States : Intelligence Authorization Act's expected gravy train prompts Capitol Hill lobbying stampede
An army of well over 100 lobbyists is currently drawing up plans to divide the spoils from the 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), according to lobbying disclosure documents which were rep...
France : DGSI big data programme struggles to get into second gear
Following a first delay in July, the decision to start the second phase of the big data analytics plaform, the
China/Israel/Japan : Japan turns to Israel's 9500 Group to counter Chinese Fukushima disinformation
Israel's 9500 Group is helping the Japanese government to counteract a Chinese influence campaign, Intelligence Online has heard, following the
China/Germany/United Kingdom : German domestic intelligence boss shared stage in London with alleged Chinese spy Cash
In Berlin, questions are being asked by the intelligence community as to when their British counterparts intended to inform them about the case of Christopher Cash, the parliamentary aide now off...
United States : US Congress returns to heated debate over surveillance laws
Even as the threat of a government shutdown looms on the horizon, the focus of Congress's return this week will
France/Turkey : Behind the scenes of Macron's unworkable visit to Ankara
First scheduled for late September, then pushed back to early October, Emmanuel Macron's visit to Turkey seems less and less
Saudi Arabia : Qudra Industrial trains Saudi intelligence in electronic warfare
Many eyes should be on Qudra Industrial Co's stand at the second edition of the Saudi World Defense Show in
France/Vietnam : Contractor hits the brakes on key Franco-Vietnamese Hanoi metro project
French engineering group Systra is threatening to withdraw from the Hanoi metro Line 3 construction project, according to Intelligence Online
Ukraine/United States : Legal battle for Odessa port assets about to become a matter of state
Pressure is mounting on businessmen Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko, who own Odessa-based grain handling holding GNT Group, to sell
Russia/Ukraine/United Kingdom : Ukraine's August raids in Crimea used British equipment and expertise
The raids carried out by Ukraine in August against the Kerch Bridge and the Mayak SIGINT station illustrate the close
China/Italy : Beijing plans influence campaign in Italy to stop it exiting New Silk Roads
A delegation of 50 Chinese researchers, specialising in subjects related to democracy and human rights, is due in Rome on 20 September, according to Intelligence Online's sources in Beijing and R...
China/France/Ukraine/United Kingdom : Ukraine's SSSCIP, For...mmittee, China experts at Foreign Office, Wiretapping radicals
Ukraine - Special communications service wants more soldiersUkraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, the SSSCIP (IO, 13/07/23)
Russia : Wagner plane crash sparks unprecedented frenzy for spy satellites
The 23 August crash of the Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft carrying Wagner chiefs Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin in Russia's
China/Japan : Tokyo tries to step up fight against Chinese disinformation
In the wake of Chinese efforts to heighten regional fears over the release of Fukushima's waters, strategists in Tokyo are
Saudi Arabia : GCAP, F-35: France hesitates over Rafale sales pitch as ambitious Riyadh reassesses its fighter options
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu visit to Riyadh on Friday 8 September, to meet with his counterpart Khaled bin
Ukraine/United Kingdom : New defence minister Umerov's network of consultants to rally Muslim support for Ukraine
Ukraine's 4 September appointment of Rustem Umerov as defence minister, replacing Olexi Reznikov (IO, 17/03/22), strengthens Kyiv's networks of communications
Australia : Intelligence review set to entrench Canberra's role as US base for observing China
Canberra's sweeping Independent Intelligence Review (IIR), now underway, is likely to please Washington, as it is expected to push for the Australian National Intelligence Community (NIC) to take...
Bulgaria/Israel/UAE : Abu Dhabi cyber taps into Israeli-Bulgarian expertise
The Bulgarian open source intelligence (OSINT) startup Tesseract Intelligence was given a space on UAE firm Beacon Red's stand at
Cambodia : Cambodia explores non-Chinese alternatives to Huawei for data storage infrastructure
Although they have not been officially excluded, Chinese companies will be up against stiff competition for contracts to build data
Jersey/United States : PR firm leading drive to lure US investors to Jersey, the offshore paradise
PR firm Peregrine Communications Inc. is directing a campaign to lure targeted US hedge funds, financial managers and wealthy individual investors
Qatar/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : From Buckingham Palace to Doha, inside the London visit in the works for MbS
The invitation addressed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in mid-August to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) is
Ukraine : Kyiv's Avalon, hive of Klitschko's networks
When Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko's office gave €6.23 million to the GUR military intelligence service, headed by the president's loyal
Estonia : Kaupo Rosin heads Estonia's external intelligence cyber activities on Russian front
Although the press in Moscow was quick to suggest that the recent drone attacks on Russia's Pskov Airport, close to
Malaysia/Switzerland : Switzerland's EAS Solutions targets Asian markets
Popular with Israeli cyber firms looking for a base from which to export their technology (IO, 07/06/23), Switzerland also boasts
Bulgaria/United States : Neil Bush attracts Bulgarian energy consultants
Bulgarian energy players are beginning to turn to US contacts, including investor Neil Bush, the younger brother of former President George
Cambodia : Phnom Penh seeks mediator role between West and China on Ukraine
The seasoned Russian ambassador to Cambodia Anatoly Borovik is hoping that the new government appointed in late August will make
Bulgaria/United States : GS Impex connects US firms with Bulgarian Navy
On the exposed banks of the Black Sea, the Bulgarian capital Sofia is poised to receive the VisionMaster radar from
Russia : ERA 'technopolis': Russia's tactical intelligence secret weapon
The role being played by ERA "military technopolis" in Russian military intelligence's technological drive was highlighted at the Army 2023 armed forces trade fair which ended on 20 August. The i...
Australia/France/Israel/UAE : Bold targets Emirates, French...Australian Signals Directorate signs up with Spur Intelligence
Dubai - Israel's Bold Analytics targets UAE market through local distributor SATIsrael's Bold Analytics, which has taken over the activity and
Russia : Dmitri Polikanov, deputy reformer of Russia's soft power age
Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian foreign ministry's agency that oversees cultural, humanitarian and soft power action abroad, is having trouble defining its
United Kingdom : Britain's GMTL builds networks in areas strategic to the defence industry
GMTL Advisory, whose CEO Simon King was previously with the equally below-the-radar firm Hakluyt, recently took on Michael Fallon, Britain's
Russia : Presidential administration orders staff to toe ideological line
A 34-page brochure called "Russia and Transformation of the World Order", which has been seen by Intelligence Online, has left
United States : Chertoff Group, K2, Pallas, Eyal Weiss
Washington - Chertoff Group hires Mark Esper, Bryan Cunningham vanishesUS risk analysis firm Chertoff Group appointed Mark Esper to its
Pakistan/United States : Pakistani veterans lead race for contracts as defence ties with US relaunched
Last month's renewal of the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) between the US and Pakistan has reopened
Australia : Bankrupt space firm Kleos hopes to find buyer for some of its assets
A number of buyers are understood to be interested in the technology and satellites owned by the radiofrequency (RF) reconnaissance
United States : US lawsuit could force Marshall Islands to open up its secretive flag registry
In a singular request, investment fund Njord Partners has submitted a request for discovery for use in foreign proceedings to a court in Virginia in the US, for access to one of the most private ...
China/Italy : Giorgia Meloni braced to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing this month
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is due to travel to Beijing by the end of the month to meet President
United Kingdom/United States : Lukoil claims damages from ex-distributors in London and New York
Since 21 August, Dutch firm Lukoil Benelux, a subsidiary of Russian Lukoil, has had free rein to build its case
Belarus : Gennady Manko, new security star of exiled opposition, emerges from the shadows
The office of exiled leader of a faction of the opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is sorting out the final details of
Kuwait/United States : Middle East agent El Mahallawy has l...iti defence minister now suing him in Beverly Hills grift case
Among the many prominent global figures, foreign government officials, and convicted grifters linked to the unfolding asset forfeiture case United States
United States : Marketing agents from US defence firms battle for turf in oil-rich Guyana
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has issued a series of defence tenders over the past month as it seeks foreign
Israel/United States : Palm Beach Networks eyes Quadream's technology
The Florida-based Palm Beach Networks (PBN), formerly Defense Prime, is in negotiations with the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Quadream to acquire its
Russia/Ukraine : Secret scouting led to Moscow strikes
The kamikaze Beaver and Uj-22 drones that spearheaded the strikes on Moscow are only the visible side to a string of underground operations Kyiv carried out on Russian soil in advance. Both those...
France/Poland/Russia/United States : FSB in the Black Sea, ...cyber labs, Warsaw's spy clinic, US's emotional intel training
Russia: FSB border guards rule over Black Sea coastRussia's FSB (Federal Security Service) border guards, who are already overstretched by
United States : US military intelligence set to establish financial agreements with strategic partners
Currently being finalised in the US Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2024 will allow the Defense Intelligence
Israel : Inside Mossad and Israeli Foreign Ministry's clash over Rome meeting with Libya
The unexpected announcement to the media on 27 August by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen of the previous week's meeting
France/Russia : Danone, Auchan, Lactalis... Agriculture Minister Patrushev tries to speed up nationalisations
The team of Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev, son of chief silovik Nikolai Patrushev, is keeping a close eye on
Ukraine : Tekever drones become Kyiv's ISR tool of choice
The Russian strike on two A25 drones by Portuguese manufacturer Tekever on 28 August illustrates the growing presence those aircraft
France : French Development Agency entrusts its security to Amarante and GEOS
Announcing the results of a double tender call on 25 August, the French development agencies Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and
Hungary/Russia : Moscow revives timid attempt to recruit Hungarian fighters
The message popped up on the VKontakte (VK) page of the Saint-Istvan Legion (Szent-Istvan Legioja) on 18 July. In it, the tiny organisation operating out of Russia that presents itself as Russian...
New Zealand : Acceleration in US-China face-off keeps NZ spymaster Andrew Hampton on his toes
The first threat assessment published by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), made public on 11 August, bears the
Singapore : Singapore's autonomous geospatial intelligence model is attracting outside interest
Delegations from the Emirati and Saudi Arabian ministries responsible for national security have been paying regular visits recently to Singapore's
Bulgaria/Israel/United kingdom : Eyal Natan, pillar of Bulgarian-Israeli business channels and former partner of a Moscow spy
The 15 August arrest by British authorities of Bulgarian businessman Orlin Roussev on charges of spying for Russia has cast
Ukraine : Oleg Tatarov rules over Ukraine's internal security appointments
In a sign of his growing influence over internal security in Ukraine, Oleg Tatarov, the deputy head of the Ukrainian
Italy : Chopstick Prati, a new Roman haunt for Italian agents
Agents of Italy's Dipartimento delle Informazioni per la Sicurezza (Department of Information Security, DIS, IO, 08/12/22) have a new favourite
Europe/United States : Private players wrestle for contracts in burgeoning market for thermal imagery
High-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) satellite imagery operators are upping their deployments to meet an increasing demand for activity detection monitoring
RUSSIA : Interior ministry, FSB and Rosgvardia fight over right to access data without warrants
The Russian security services have grown increasingly combative over the past two weeks over a proposed legislative amendment from the
GERMANY/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Kronstadt launches producti...ed in German acoustic warfare; Jonathan Evans leaves Darktrace
Moscow - Russia acquires satcom-equipped MALE drones from KronstadtIntelligence Online's sources say that the drone division of Kronstadt, the Russian defence
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Israeli cyber firm Paragon beefs up US subsidiary
The Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Paragon, a cloud infiltration specialist, is beefing up its US subsidiary. The company has taken on
AUSTRALIA/CHINA/INDIA/TAIWAN : Beijing taunts Quad countries with new observation satellite
Even if the China National Space Administration (CNSA) is trying to maintain a low profile in its public announcements, the launch of the L-SAR4-01 radar observation satellite (SAR) in mid-August...
INDIA/UNITED STATES : Corporate intelligence firm Nisos assists investigation into 'widespread theft'
An "urgent" motion submitted by education technology company Chegg, Inc. to a San Francisco court on August 16 was based
UKRAINE : Kyiv still seeks Chinese surveillance tools despite Western bans
The Ukrainian border guard service, the DPSU (IO, 21/02/22), and national police have calls for tenders running to acquire video
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : End of ENRC v SFO bread and butter for investigators
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announcement on Thursday that it was dropping its decade-long probe into the Kazakh mining group
United Kingdom : Corporate intelligence firm Audere sets sights on former ISC members
Fresh off the plane after a business trip to the United States, seasoned intelligence expert Charles Blackmore is already in
VIETNAM : Hanoi ponders large-scale financial intelligence service
As the anti-corruption storm continues to batter the country, the Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam is plying pressure
IRAN/RUSSIA : Russian nuclear security consultant operating in Iran charged after FSB probe
Moscow has Russian nuclear security consultant Vladimir Tikhonov in its sights. In July, the businessman was ordered by the 9th
UAE : Abu Dhabi-based vulnerability researcher Crowdfense undergoes a small revolution
The UAE zero-day firm Crowdfense is overhauling its bug bounty programme to make it more appealing, Intelligence Online has learned. The
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Lobby firm woos African Americans to promote China's foreign influence ops
Washington-based Wilson Global Communications (WGC) has ramped up efforts to line up African American support for China on behalf of a Hong Kong group that CIA Director William Burns has said Bei...
Ukraine/United Kingdom/United States : Herminius, Nardello, Raedas and Naftogaz
Kyiv/New York - Naftogaz reshuffles investigatorsThe Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz, which is vying for a role in Europe's future
UKRAINE : New ISR tech on the verge of boosting Ukraine's counter-offensive
Ukrainian start-ups are urgently developing technologies to secure and improve the performance of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones. Kyiv
KUWAIT/UNITED STATES : US case to seize ex-Kuwaiti defence minister's Beverly Hills assets lags over deposition site
The peculiar court case United States of America v. Real Property Located in Beverly Hills, California, took an unexpected turn on
BELARUS : Lukashenko removes top Belarusian military commanders
Under the cover of routine personnel changes, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has carried out a behind-the-scenes clean-out in the upper
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Allegedly GU-linked Ruslan Pukhov launches new intelligence magazine
The Russian intelligence community loves publications about its own industry. Late last year, its foreign intelligence service, the SVR, launched
VIETNAM : Hanoi wants ASML to take root in Vietnam amid global rare earths battle
Intelligence Online has learned that Hanoi is actively trying to convince Dutch semiconductor giant Advanced Semiconductor Material Lithography (ASML) to
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Khaled Al Biyari, the man taking Mohammed bin Salman's F-35 ambitions to Washington
After getting the green light from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) dispatched Assistant Minister of Defence Khaled Al Biyari and the head ...
TURKEY : Hakan Fidan uses his spymaster experience to strengthen diplomatic corps
At a recent meeting of all Turkish ambassadors, the new foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, who was the director of the
RUSSIA : Moscow puts plans to deploy Serbian soldiers in Ukraine on hold
On 21 August, the war leader Davor Savicic, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian Serb, made a rare television appearance on Solovyov.live, a channel
SAUDI ARABIA : Mohammed bin Salman hunts with a pack to bring football business to Riyadh
The launch early this month of SRJ Sports Investments, the new sports and in particular football arm of the Saudi
AUSTRIA : Targeted for Russian ties, cyber intelligence firm DSIRF shuts up shop
On 15 August, Austrian cyber infiltration specialist DSIRF started liquidation proceedings with the Vienna court of commerce. The company, whose
AUSTRALIA/FRANCE/ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Paris tightens red tape on employees of US, Australian and Israeli embassies
How to remain in the French administration's good books has become such a sensitive matter, the embassies of the United States, Israel and Australia have created an informal discussion group on t...
UNITED KINGDOM : From GCAP to Saudi Arabia, BAE Systems' intelligence unit is booming
Business is booming at the UK defence conglomerate BAE Systems' business intelligence unit, arguably the most discreet and powerful in
FINLAND/FRANCE/GERMANY/NATO/UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Ukrainian BEB, France in NATO, US Army in Europe, AUKUS
Ukraine - Anti-corruption audit of economic security bureauAn audit of Ukraine's economic security bureau, the BEB, should be on the service
China : Beijing completes cutting-edge submarine surveillance project amid stand-off with US
China is poised to complete a major research project focused on ocean satellite surveillance. Beijing's obsession with securing its territory
VIETNAM : Thales and Leonardo back to square one in battle for Vietnamese radar contract
Intelligence Online has learned that the para-public Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corp (VATM) has told rival bidders Thales and Leonardo
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US intel still struggling over its China strategy
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for 2024 currently being finalised in Congress feature a raft of new requests from lawmakers to the intellig...
GREECE/UNITED STATES : Defence services provider Leidos keen to see end to battle against its former agent in Greece
In filing a new complaint on 15 August before the court of Virginia against its former sales agent in Greece
UKRAINE : Ukraine looks to boost electronic warfare capacities to foil Russian jamming
Intelligence Online's sources say that Ukraine is keenly urging the United States to supply it with the TEWS mobile tactical electronic warfare system, developed by Raytheon and used on the Stryk...
KAZAKHSTAN : Samat Abish unscathed as Kazakhstan's disgraced intelligence chiefs face ongoing charges and convictions
In mid-July, just a few months after he was given an 18-month prison sentence (IO, 02/05/23), Karim Massimov was placed
HUNGARY/UNITED STATES : Biden administration checks Orban's effort to deepen ties with Trump network
An unannounced aim of the Biden administration's 1 August decision to restrict the ability of Hungarians to travel to the
CHINA : Global intelligence abuzz over missing Chinese foreign minister
According to our sources, several Western intelligence services are now convinced that Russian intelligence told Xi Jinping's teams that China's
UNITED STATES : GOP donor Greg Mosing helps Republicans fly high with his private jet
When former US President Donald Trump headlines a political rally in South Dakota on 8 September with "special guest" Governor Kristi Noem,
INDIA/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Worldwide battle over Indian-run hacking for hire converges in North Carolina
The global corporate intelligence community is eagerly awaiting the end of the month, when a North Carolina court is to rule on several discovery demands in a sweeping legal onslaught that Kazakh...
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Kyiv's PR strategists shift to litigation tactics against Moscow
The civil society coalition B4Ukraine, (Business for Ukraine), is finalising a report on ways for private companies to leave Russia,
RUSSIA : Moscow region hires Serbian private soldiers for imminent deployment to Ukraine
Several hundred new recruits from the Balkans are expected to arrive by 1 September in a temporary camp outside the
UNITED STATES : Operators break silence on observation satellite wipe outs
The huge number of satellite losses racked up by the satellite imagery industry, one of the best-kept secrets in the
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : London speeds up negotiations...yphoon order and sixth generation fighter programme membership
British defence strategists are currently studying all their options for achieving a rapid sale of fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh's possible membership of the sixth generation fighter p...
CHINA/FRANCE/RUSSIA : Xi Jinping turns down Emmanuel Macron appearance at BRICS summit
Intelligence Online has learned that Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomatic approach is behind the refusal to allow French President Emmanuel
RUSSIA : Kremlin secretly prepares for imminent military draft
There are growing signs the Kremlin is preparing on the quiet for a new draft. On 14 August, the presidential executive office, led by Anton Vaino, gave state companies two weeks' notice to send ...
FRANCE/NORTH KOREA : Conseil d'Etat ends French Senate president's appeal over Pyongyang spying affair
The president of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, will soon have to reinstate Benoît Quennedey as an official in his
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US prepares Earth Observation operators to compete with China
Announced on 7 August, the decision removes all technical restrictions on sales of remote-sensing images and limits the areas upon
UKRAINE : Intelligence think tank Borysfen Intel starts new chapter based on founder's legacy
In July, the Ukrainian think tank Borysfen Intel published its first book not directly linked to its founder, Viktor Hvozd,
CHINA/TAIWAN : CCP plays the religious card in Taipei
In addition to overt demonstrations of force against Taiwan, China is investing its energies in the religious domain in order
CHINA/FRANCE/SINGAPORE/THAILAND : Ex-Airbus sales execs move onto new Asian pastures
The decade of anti-corruption investigations targeting Airbus Group's business networks has left many experienced salespeople out in the cold, particularly
BANGLADESH : How Bangladesh came by its cyber intelligence tools
Accused of human rights violations, the Bangladesh services find it hard to procure dual use technology, of which cyber intelligence tools are a part, from the West. But the country has managed t...
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : How Washington armoured Ukraine's border guards
In mid-August, Motorola-type radio equipment using 162-174 MHz frequency, namely 120 SLR 5500 series repeaters and 250 mobile radio antennas, made in
RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : US and Russia's ghost fleets face off in deep waters
A silent and secret battle is being waged on the seabed between Russia's Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) and the US Navy's Comsub Devron 5 through bouts of intelligence gathering and...
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA/UAE : Mubadala watches closely as Saudi fund PIF opens Paris office
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), governed by Yasir Al Rumayyan, is preparing to open a Paris office by the
UNITED STATES : The Pentagon's major image processing project Maven makes budget comeback
After several years of difficulties, Project Maven is about to become an official programme under the 2024 US military budget.
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : US-focused Control Risks sees predictive AI partner Seerist gain stride
The British corporate intelligence firm Control Risks Group (IO, 22/11/21) is helping its new "Americas" director Michael Gerardi get settled
BELARUS : Minsk security agencies compete for attention amid fears for their futures
The leaders of the Belarusian security services have been working overtime since Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny at the end of June.
FRANCE/PHILIPPINES : France hopes to cash in on Philippine armed forces' modernisation
While France prepares to appoint a defence attaché to join ambassador Michèle Boccoz in Manila, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)'s modernisation programme has significantly sped up in ...
Bangladesh/China/India : Beijing strengthens military footprint on Indian border with Bangladesh's help
Several People's Liberation Army (PLA) military vehicles have been spotted on numerous occasions near the Indo-Bangladesh border on the Bangladeshi
RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : Cyber Threat Intelligence, the latest geopolitical battleground
Following the June publication by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky of a report on Operation Triangulation, Apple released its third security update
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM : Former British diplomat Bill Murray is now a right-hand man to Emirati finance supremo Tahnoon bin Zayed
In addition to his existing faithful advisers, Pakistani national Syed Basar Shueb, head of International Holding Co (IHC), and Moroccan national Sofia Lasky, who assists him at Royal Group (IO, ...
LITHUANIA/MOLDOVA/UKRAINE : Lithuania providing Kyiv and Chisinau with security materiel
As well as a large quantity of medical products and school supplies, for the past year, the Lithuanian central project
CHINA/INDIA/UNITED STATES : Guoanbu securing non-Chinese passports for its agents
Intelligence Online's sources in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh have confirmed that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is continuing to expand westwards, increasing its activities in Upper...
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Crackdown on cyber intelligence spells boon for lobbyists in Washington
The decision from the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to add the Greece-based entity Intellexa and
RUSSIA : Behind-the-lines mobilisation sees boom in new drone operator courses at Russian universities
Thousands of young Russians are preparing to join one of the new drone operation courses offered by more than 10
FRANCE/SYRIA/UNITED STATES : Lafarge targeted by new lawsuit in the US from families of Islamic State victims
In a court filing seen by our sister publication La Lettre A, lawyer Joshua D. Branson lodged a complaint in
UNITED KINGDOM : Lawyer Cadman, behind Syrian torture trials, eyes lawfare opportunities
In a move that will have displeased London lawyer Toby Cadman, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently postponed the
BRAZIL/FRANCE/INDIA/NORTH KOREA/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATE... US writers and foreign dissidents become champions of America
Young Voices, a Washington, DC talent agency, recently announced it had selected participants for a project it runs to support
POLAND : Inspector Lounge, Russian-speaking VIPs' meeting point in Warsaw
Despite only opening its doors on this year's Valentine's Day, at 37 Zielna Street in the business district of Warsaw, Inspector
Monaco : Prince Albert forced to play spymaster to purge Monaco
Image 7 has, according to our sources, won a contract to steer Monaco's strategic communication. Its mission, which CEO Anne Méaux
CHINA/RUSSIA : Russian customs service's ex-chief fosters Russia-China business links
Andrey Belyaninov, who used to head Russia's Federal Customs Service, the FTS, is often to be seen at business events
FRANCE : Intelligence service providers flock to France's Cyber III tender despite funding doubts
The 31 July deadline for submitting bids to the French Interior Ministry for its major four-year cyber investment plan, Cyber
France/Lebanon/United States : Washington counts on General Joseph Aoun to maintain its local investment in Lebanon
A new spate of attacks on banks in Lebanon in mid-July by customers desperate to withdraw their savings is the
FRANCE : French coastguards aim to boost surveillance capacity with big data analytics
The French customs and indirect duties department, the DGDDI, aims to set up a national surface situation analysis centre that
EUROPE/UKRAINE : The network securing the European External Action Service in Kyiv
In order to maintain Brussels' presence in Kyiv, the private security company Argus Group has had its contract to provide
CHINA/SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES : Washington and Beijing ready to relaunch military dialogue in host country
Keen to renew military dialogue, the US and China are currently discussing for delegations from their respective defence departments meeting before
CHINA/MYANMAR : With M Tower, Norinco's agent keeps in with Myanmar military
Yangon's new high-rise M-Tower has further boosted the relationship between its constructor Mottama Holdings' boss U Yang Ho and Myanmar's
AFRICA/FRANCE/UNITED STATES : French border police go airbo...CARBON 01 in Ouagadougou, Kosiba back after bracket f downfall
Paris: Border police keen for airborne surveillanceThe French Central Directorate of the Border Police, or DCPAF, whose mission is to
Russia : Moscow strives to make up for lost time in intelligence integration
Moscow is currently pulling out all the stops to make up for its technological inferiority in the intelligence integration field. It has learned lessons from its initial failures and the structur...
CHINA/HONG KONG/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Western corp...ce firms in China forced into stealth mode with local partners
China's anti-espionage law that came into force on 1 July after raids on several corporate intelligence (Mintz Group) and consultancy
CHINA/TAIWAN/UNITED STATES : China-US trial of strength has enabled KMT to gain ground in Taiwan
As part of preparations for a possible meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in November, the US State Department
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Ex-EDF chief Henri Proglio makes steps to reconnect with Saudi's movers and shakers
Henri Proglio, who headed the French electric utility company EDF from 2009-2014 and before that ran the water, waste and
RUSSIA : Acoustic warfare in the Barents Sea
Russia has been deploying its Harmony underwater acoustic listening network in the Barents Sea over the last few weeks, according
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : MP Serhiy Taruta supports Jason McCue's pro-Ukraine lawfare ambitions
British lawyer Jason McCue, who has designs on being Ukraine's lawfare champion against Russia (IO, 19/07/23), is counting on the support - and contacts - of Ukrainian MP Serhiy Taruta to help hi...
FRANCE : ADIT/DCI deal gets political, Consors lands Framatome mission, Steffi Probst joins IRC
Paris - French left party challenges sale of DCIThe French left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) is making a political issue
CAMBODIA : US launches charm offensive as Cambodia prepares for handover of power
Cambodia's seemingly immovable Prime Minister Hun Sen is due to give up his place at the end of August, prompting
KOSOVO/UNITED STATES : Pristina changes Washington lobbying strategy as tensions with Belgrade run high
Pristina has changed its lobbying strategy in Washington by choosing two public relations firms connected to Albania, thereby strengthening ties
FRANCE/NATO : French senate elections to shake up NATO Parliamentary Assembly presidency
Joelle Garriaud-Maylam might well lose her post as the senator responsible for French citizens living abroad after elections on 24
EUROPE/NORTH AMERICA : Brunssum Command central to NATO's regional plans
Up to 300,000 troops from member states should be deployable within 30 days by the NATO Response Force (NRF), members
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Kherson clan a driving force behind Danone Russia takeover
Moscow's 16 July takeover of the Russian assets of French group Danone has strengthened the network of Chechen Agriculture Minister
FRANCE : French Interior Ministry picks Suadeo's big data solution for Paris 2024
Intelligence Online understands that the French Ministry of Interior will be using the self data services platform developed by French
FRANCE/GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Rafale's Dassa...opportunity in Saudi Arabia reduced by defence contracts probe
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz's confirmation on 12 July of his refusal to approve the delivery of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia has raised hopes at France's Dassault Aviatio...
CHINA/TAIWAN/UNITED STATES : Little-known Taiwanese media firm hires Obama's top China expert
Jeffrey Bader, special assistant to then President Barack Obama at the National Security Council on Asia from 2009 to 2011, registered
FRANCE : Paris 'explores' technology of F-35s on Guam exercises
The French air force's three Rafale aircraft currently deployed on the island of Guam as part of the Pegasus 23
UNITED STATES : US State Department scores new point against ODNI in fight against state-sponsored fake news
US lawmakers are calling on the State Department to address the growing foreign threat posed by generative artificial intelligence (AI)
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : London investor with ...ots, Gemcorp quietly builds lobbying campaign in DC and London
Anthony Podesta's eponymous Podesta Group is still spending big in Washington on behalf of the London-based investment group Gemcorp. It
EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Yulia Shoigu, Akhmed Zakayev, NGA drops analogue imaging, NATO, Bernard Emié
Moscow: Defence minister puts daughter in charge of veteran aid fund The psychologist Yulia Shoigu, oldest daughter of Russian defence minister
RUSSIA : The real reason for ex-FSB Polyakov's arrest
Frustration is growing within the State Security Service or FSB where the settling of scores between its senior officers is
FRANCE/SOUTH KOREA/UAE : MBDA faces unexpected competition from LIG Nex1 and Hanwha on Emirati corvettes contract
MBDA is almost there. The European missile manufacturer, a joint venture between Airbus (37,5%), BAE Systems (37,5%) and Leonardo (25%),
FRANCE : France's DGSE thwarts parliamentary bid to impose tighter control over interceptions
Plans to strengthen the French interceptions watchdog CNCTR's (Commission Nationale de Contrôle des Techniques de Renseignement) oversight of audio and video recordings by the intelligence servi...
UNITED KINGDOM : Rolls-Royce vs Goodrich ruling spells victory for FTI over Alvarez & Marsal
A London court ruled in favour of Rolls-Royce on 7 July, bringing to an end a two-year legal battle between
JAPAN/NATO : Japan is looking for ways of getting closer to NATO without a Tokyo liaison office
After changing his NATO strategy more than once on the recommendations of the United States (IO, 05/06/23), Japanese Prime Minister
CHINA/FRANCE/PAKISTAN : The Dissident Club in Paris, closely watched by services from Beijing to Islamabad
It's a small bar on Rue Richer in Paris with an unassuming red facade and a curious name. The Dissident
AUSTRALIA/INDIA/JAPAN/UNITED STATES : Quad's China maritime surveillance projects get off to shaky start
Japan's desire to turn its geospatial intelligence sensors towards Chinese-Russian activity in the Kuril Islands and Vladivostok (IO, 03/07/23) is
China/Russia : Anatoly Tkachuk, building Beijing's bridges into the Russian Arctic
Roman Trotsenko, a businessman who is very active in the Arctic Circle, can count on Anatoly Tkachuk's networks to multiply
SPAIN : Barcelona emerges as new cyber-offensive hub in Europe
In heading to Barcelona to seek out zero-day researchers, as the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed, cyber company Palm Beach Networks
United States : Mike Casey to breathe new life into US counter-espionage
In its search to give the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) a second wind, the White House has opted
UNITED STATES : US Congress committees face off over military cyber operations' oversight
As the US Congress prepares for its August summer break, the attention of its armed forces and intelligence committees is
HUNGARY : Sanctions against Serb intelligence chief puts Budapest on edge
From Hungary, the designation of Aleksandar Vulin, head of the Serbian civil intelligence Bezbednosno Informativna Agencija, for sanctions by the
FRANCE/ISRAEL/LUXEMBOURG/UAE/UNITED STATES : Cobwebs/Spire ... Kleos Space, AFRL's ISR sensor, Resecurity in Dubai, Wide Int
Herzliya/New York: Now part of Spire Capital, Cobwebs looks to US marketThe Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) specialist Cobwebs Technologies' acquisition
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi conglomerate Nesma reaches out to French industry
Keen to develop new partnerships with French industry, Faisal Saleh Ali Al Turki, the vice-president and director of Saudi Arabian
UKRAINE : Naftogaz pitches itself as East European energy hub thanks to lobbyists
Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz is pursuing its lobbying of Western partners with the help of consulting firms Highgate (IO,
CHINA : China's new satellite imagery catalogue reveals geographical limits and technical improvements
A new catalogue of commercially available Chinese satellite imagery, updated on 1 July, contains data down to a resolution of 30cm from SpaceWill's SuperView Neo observation satellite (IO, 14/03/...
UNITED KINGDOM : Victoria Intelligence, Beth Sizeland goes private, CohnReznick shops at Exiger
Essex - Rachael Spanton, from safety at BP to private consultingThe head of the safety and intelligence centre at British
FRANCE/IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : Korek case: Sirwan Barzani goes after Raedas
After recently being ordered to pay a fine of $800m to the Iraqi treasury over corruption-related allegations, Korek Telecom struck back
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED STATES : Black Ice AI pitches its services to Kazakhstan asset hunters
Businessman Elisar Nurmagambetov, co-founder of the Houston-based Black Ice AI, is currently in Astana pitching his Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme
BELARUS : Belarus KGB steps up attacks on dissidents' armed wing
Against a backdrop of political uncertainty in Russia and military escalation in Ukraine, the Minsk KGB is increasingly concerned about
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : With defence in its sights, Jolt Capital cosies up to leading Gulf families
Jolt Capital has been keeping a close eye on the Military Planning Act (LPM) just adopted by the French parliament.
FRANCE : DGSI big data analysis programme behind schedule
A decision regarding the successful bidders for the second phase of the OTDH big data analysis platform - being set
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : McCue leads list of law firms and consultants taking on Russia
Beyond his Ukraine connections, British lawyer Jason McCue, head of McCue Jury & Partners (IO, 12/07/23), is also developing his international network. McCue has established connections with vari...
POLAND/UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : New York lifestyle PR firm handles Polish government's strategic campaigning in the US
The New York PR firm AMW Public Relations (AMWPR) published a report on 10 July that reveals the missions it
CHINA/ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Freshly indicted Gal Luft put ...n positions at his Washington-area, Chinese-linked think tanks
Gal Luft's 10 July indictment by the Justice Department on charges of illegal arms trafficking and influence peddling was a
SERBIA/UNITED STATES : Why the US sanctioned civil intelligence chief Aleksandar Vulin
After long months of uncertainty (IO, 19/05/23), the limits of Aleksandar Vulin's powers have now been brought to light in
RUSSIA : Moscow tightens administrative grip on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory
Moscow is determined to tighten the political and administrative integration of Ukrainian territories controlled by Russian forces, with the appointment
INDONESIA/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh construction magnate Serik Karymsakov eyes Indonesian contracts
Kazakh construction magnate Serik Karymsakov is proving to be a key figure in the budding business relations between Indonesia and
CHINA : China deploys underwater reconnaissance drones in South China Sea
Over the past week, China has deployed numerous Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) underwater drones from its base on the
CAMBODIA/CHINA/FRANCE/VIETNAM : Jonathan Choi, champion of Chinese interests in France and South East Asia
Jesse Choi, son of Sunwah Group CEO Jonathan Choi, and director of the group's South East Asia branch, has been meeting with foreign diplomats, mostly French and British, and Vietnamese Cambodian...
TURKEY/UAE : Baykar's Bayraktar drones are top of the agenda for Erdogan's visit to Abu Dhabi
After a trip to Jeddah and Doha, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 19 July.
FRANCE : French corporate intelligence top brass 'debriefed' by Senate commission
The economic intelligence mission set up by the French Senate's economic affairs commission handed in its conclusions on 12 July
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : Businessman Aleksandr Okulov... evade sanctions wants to convince Washington of his innocence
A Moldovan-Russian businessman met last week in Dubai with a Washington attorney in an effort to have his name removed from the
FRANCE/GEORGIA/POLAND/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Defenc... by Pole, US adviser in Tbilisi, and Irsem under investigation
United Kingdom - Military intelligence soon to be included in Tri-Agency's China initiativeAs noted in the latest Intelligence & Security
FRANCE : French senators prepare business intelligence bill
After handing over their report on business intelligence, which was published on 12 July, the rapporteurs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (Renaissance) and
GERMANY/RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : SMX supplies Russian experts to US intelligence in Wiesbaden
The US Army for Europe and Africa's (USAREUR-AF) intelligence command (G2) will soon welcome new experts at its headquarters in
RUSSIA : ARM-K-M, Russia's clone of Ukrainian GEOINT software Kropyva
Over the past few months, the Russian firm Perm Scientific and Production Instrument Company (PNPPK), headed by Aleksey Guryevich Andreyev,
CHINA/RUSSIA : Guoanbu moves to boost presence in Moscow
A small delegation from Guoanbu, the Chinese ministry of state security (MSS - the country's non-military intelligence service), is expected to travel to Moscow at the end of the month, Intellige...
Thailand : Thailand's Thanakorn Buaras, a master spy in the hot seat
Though a 13 July vote in the Senate has adjourned the transitional government, the head of Thailand's main intelligence agency,
FRANCE : Paris's Le Méridien, where spies, sources and sauce come together
On France's national holiday, 14 July, Le Méridien near the Porte Maillot in Paris's chic 17th arrondissement will once more
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Saudi Arabian spy school drains British intelligence brains
According to our sources, Saudi Arabia is developing an intelligence training programme with the help of a number of British
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Free Russia Foundation, a sh...ington group at the heart of a network of anti-Russia activism
In a statement released in late-June following the brief showdown between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin of the Wagner Group,
RUSSIA : Russian rivals Titov and Shokhin compete for role as entrepreneurs' ombudsman
Russian businessman and former trader Boris Titov, the current commissioner for the rights of entrepreneurs, is unhappy about a proposal
EUROPE/FINLAND/UNITED STATES : Finland takes lead in European strategic space industry
At the Paris Air Show in June, the European Space Agency announced Finland's Kuva Space as the only company accredited
NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES : US and South Korean...igence investigate Western components on Pyongyang's satellite
At a press conference on 5 July, Lee Shoon-geun, of South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute and Yang Uk,
UKRAINE : Digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov expands control over Ukraine's cybersecurity
From 1 September, executive authority over electronic communications and radio frequencies will be placed under the Ukrainian digital transformation ministry's
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA/PAKISTAN : Xi Jinping orders Guoanbu to step up its presence in Afghanistan
For the last month, the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the Guoanbu, has been increasingly active in Kabul, according to
FRANCE/SWITZERLAND : Orange Cyberdefense gets closer to UN agencies through SCRT
Orange Cyberdefense, the French cyber subsidiary of Orange, is now on the market to supply information protection services to the
SAUDI ARABIA : Al Jaber and Al Ibrahim brothers' legal battle exposes their defence connections
The legal battle between Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber and the Al Ibrahim brothers over a disputed payment of $30m
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Tesseract Intelligence in UAE, DARPA's underwater acoustic sensors, Skyral Defence
Abu Dhabi - Bulgaria's Tesseract Intelligence sets sights on UAE via PegasusTesseract Intelligence Platform is an intelligence threat solution that
CHINA/DRC : Wuhan's drone academy serves as international training platform for Beijing's military drones
The latest sales contracts for Chinese military drones have all been accompanied by more discreet training agreements with the Air Force Early Warning Academy (AFEWA), a training college based in...
UNITED KINGDOM : Hakluyt attempts to unlock mysteries of Investment Security Unit
Keen not to miss any developments regarding the financial security processes currently being developed by the British government, the UK
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Lawfare strategist Jason McCue goes into battle for Ukraine
With the help of its Ukraine connections in the PR and business worlds, the law firm McCue Jury & Partners
CAMBODIA : Cambodia's pre-election manoeuvres pit pro-Vietnam camp against pro-China politicians
Moves are afoot by some in Phnom Penh to ensure that Cambodia's key ministries are not too pro-China after the
BAHRAIN/FRANCE : Despite stronger UK leanings, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa to visit Paris
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa is planning a trip to France in September. After a visit last August
UNITED KINGDOM : Audere, Pantheon Intelligence, C4I, and Cassini Conseil
London - Audere networks with chambers of commerceIn June, Charles Blackmore's British corporate intelligence firm Audere International discreetly joined the
AUSTRALIA : Israeli Cyberbit to train Australian intelligence agency's cyber specialists
Israeli cyber security firm Cyberbit is about to take its first steps in Australia. The firm headed by Adi Dar,
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Short-sellers working for Moscow? The unlikely genesis of an enticing narrative
The case is the talk of the London short-selling community. Several weeks ago, journalists and politicians were tipped off that Viceroy Research co-founder Fraser Perring, was a purveyor of Russi...
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Ex-Uber cybersecurity chief exhibits Ukrainian support in case against DoJ
To prepare for his appeal, former Uber cybersecurity director Joseph Sullivan - sentenced on 4 May to three years probation
EUROPE : Sanctions war: EU in a quandary over the use of frozen Russian State assets
Intelligence Online understands that the ad hoc working group on frozen and immobilised Russian assets is due to meet tomorrow
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : US finances anti-mine vehicles for Ukrainian border guard
Some 190 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) armoured vehicles from Canada's Roshel will be delivered to Ukraine by late September. The vehicles, financed
BAHRAIN/UNITED KINGDOM : Working for the British crown makes for good business in Bahrain
All lights are go for Gerry Grimstone, Baron Grimstone of Boscobel, who was the UK's investments minister from 2020 to
UNITED STATES : After Nardello, Kroll and Alvarez & Marsal, Guidepost tackles FTX/SBF
The collapse of cryptocurrency company FTX Trading and the US Department of Justice's pursuit of its former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Israeli OSINT specialist Ultra launches sales drive in North America
Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) company Ultra has been trying for several weeks to achieve a commercial breakthrough in North
CHINA/ITALY : Beijing pulls out all the stops to keep Rome in the Silk Road
The entire focus of Beijing's lobbying efforts in Rome during the visit of the head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Liu Jianchao from 25 to 27 June wa...
SWITZERLAND : Geneva investigators brace for backlash from new Alp Services revelations
After a second round of data was leaked on Friday from the historic Geneva-based intelligence firm Alp Services, showing its
UNITED STATES : US Army tests HADES programme's new airborne intelligence capacities
The US Army's keenly awaited new Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) sensor programme HADES is currently being tested at the Hamilton
RUSSIA : Patrushev Jr exposes network of companies in Danone takeover attempts
The powerful Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev, son of silovik and secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, plans to exert
FRANCE : French military planning law: parliament and government go head-to-head over intelligence amendments
A joint committee composed of MPs and senators is set to meet at 10.30 a.m. today to reach a compromise
GERMANY : German intelligence agencies feel political pressure during shake-up
Criticising failings by the BND foreign intelligence agency in an interview on ARD television on 28 June, the German Chancellor
RUSSIA/SYRIA/TURKEY/UNITED STATES : Protecting state secret...NI, Hakan Fidan and Syria, French DPR and foreign interference
Russia - Sergey Alpatov gets greater state secrets privilegesGen. Sergey Korolev, head of counter-espionage at Russia's domestic intelligence service, the
EUROPE/UNITED STATES : NATO's operational plans on Vilnius summit agenda
The NATO summit taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania on 11-12 July, will focus on national issues - namely Ukrainian, Swedish and Moldovan ones - but not only. Behind closed doors, member states wi...
INDIA/UAE/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Forensics firm Inn... in new legal action against alleged hackers for Ras Al Kaimah
In a fresh complaint filed to the Southern District de New-York (SDNY) court last month, Oussama El Omari, the former
UNITED STATES : Heritage Foundation's hire of Alex Velez-Gr...licy expert shows conservative think tanks aligning with Trump
Until recently a key staffer to one of the Republican Party's most prominent members of congress, Alex Velez-Green began work as
LEBANON : Beirut's Central Military Club, where the Lebanese armed forces mix relaxation with hush-hush discussions
Whether Lebanese armed forces and intelligence officers are seeking a locale for a confidential meeting, a spa experience to relieve
CHINA : China's new banking regulator enforces ideological controls
Launched with the stated aim of closing gaps in financial surveillance and centralising authority over Chinese banks through tightened political
BRAZIL/CHINA/INDIA/RUSSIA/SOUTH AFRICA : BRICS constellatio...chnical deficiencies and an impossible political balancing act
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) earth observation satellite constellation project, which is being followed with close
Europe/United States : Andy Clark takes charge of NATO's technical intelligence drive
In a few days, US Air Force general Andrew M. Clark (nicknamed "Spoo") will celebrate his first anniversary as head
CHINA : Xi Jinping launches new military-industrial 'clique' to take over from Communist Youth League of China
In addition to leading China's civil-military fusion efforts (IO, 21/04/22), new vice premier Zhang Guoqing, has been given a more discreet
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Political lobbyist George McGregor launches new pro-Ukraine campaign in Washington
With Ukraine's counter-offensive underway and President Volodymyr Zelensky urging Western allies to maintain or increase their supply of weapons, the
IRAQ/TURKEY : Turkey's MIT seeks greater balance in relations with Erbil and Sulaymaniyah
Despite the warm exchange of greetings between Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) president Neshirvan Barzani
BELARUS : Belarusian opposition shaken by infiltration accusations
Belarusian dissidents in exile, led by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, are taking stock internally of their recent failure to put their long-announced
UKRAINE : Kyiv makes more use of incubators to localise its defence sector
In June, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, led by Olexi Reznikov, set up a new "accelerator" under the supervision of Deputy
SWITZERLAND/UNITED STATES : Tensions in anti-corruption team at World Bank's $15bn Global Fund
Fady Zeidan, the former general counsel of the World Bank Global Fund, is to take over as the institution's chief
CHINA : China plays catch-up on radar imaging at lightning speed
The recent launches of earth observation satellites Hongtu, Fucheng-1 and Luojia-2 crown China's efforts in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) over the past few years in a joining of the government's...
BOSNIA/EUROPE/ISRAEL/RUSSIA : ISR in Bosnia, Russia's drone jammers, Israeli-Taiwanese-Emirati space alliance
Brussels/Sarajevo: ISR suppliers eye Bosnia tender Air surveillance suppliers are closely studying a new tender launched by the European Union Force
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Ex-CRG in Riyadh, Green joins Westexec, G3, Seladore Legal, Geos
Riyad/Washington - Mike Wolff takes on MbS's projectsMike Wolff, a former British soldier who spent 17 years as a partner
UNITED STATES : Ex-oil trader for Moscow Niels Troost hires his defence team with diplomatic passport in hand
"I am confident that in this capacity you will deploy your best efforts in promoting the foreign policy objectives and
BELARUS : Intelligence services in East and West step up surveillance of Belarusian opposition
The Belarusian opposition's hopes that Alexander Lukashenko's regime would fall in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny against the Kremlin
COLOMBIA/UAE : Melissa Moncada hones Tahnoon bin Zayed's strategy in Colombia with G42 and Aurora Rising Group
Although Moncada Holdings, a joint venture between Colombian businesswoman Melissa Velasquez Moncada and Chimera Investment - itself a subsidiary of
VIETNAM : Vietnamese coast guard anti-corruption trial jeopardises Western defence deals
The trial of five Vietnamese coast guard service senior officers, including three generals, opened in Hanoi's military tribunal on 27
UNITED STATES : With Demogorgon, Kratos becomes key player in future US fighter planes' electronic warfare capacity
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a company run by Eric DeMarco and whose products include combat drones, is putting the
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Score-settling thrives in international court battles with Astana over asset hunts
The legal battle pitting the US Nevada-based firm Jysan Holding and its British subsidiary Jusan Technologies against the Kazakh government is being watched closely in London by strategy consulti...
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : New cloud on horizon for Israeli cyber firm Hub
A complaint filed by the investment bank Oppenheimer & Co against Hub Security in New York on 12 June adds
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Air Liquide grapples with internal dissent as it tries to pull out of Russia
It looks like it will not be so easy for Air Liquide to pull out of Russia. The subcommittee of
COLOMBIA/UAE : Melissa Moncada, the Medellin businesswoman driving Tahnoon bin Zayed's Colombian affairs
Since the UAE hired private Colombian fighters for its operations in Yemen, relations between Abu Dhabi and Colombia have taken a financial turn. In late May, Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the bro...
UNITED KINGDOM : Amid budget cuts, JS Held reshapes investigation department
In London, management upheavals continue at US company JS Held, a few weeks after the dismissal of investigators Phoebe Waters
UNITED STATES : Congress wants intelligence community to dive headlong into economic competition
The US intelligence community's sizeable to-do list has grown even longer. In its 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act, presented to the
JORDAN/SYRIA : Jordanian GID steps up intelligence efforts on its northern border as captagon drug trade grows
Jordan's new strategy towards Syria published on 25 June - in which the central authority in Damascus is now referred
THAILAND : Ex-Airbus exec Pierre Jaffre at centre of business networks linking Europe and Thailand
French consultant Pierre Jaffre, after his appointment last month to head the Thai-European Business Association (TEBA), will now be in
FRANCE/UNITED STATES : Forward Global loses well-connected Washington CEO
When co-founder Arnaud Dassier recently sold his stake in the influence firm Avisa Partners, now renamed Forward Global, and acquired
CHINA/NORTH KOREA : Intense negotiations under way for Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing
South Korea's intelligence services are taking a close interest in the activities of the leaders of the Workers' Party of
SYRIA/UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Private diplomacy: anti-Assad lobbyists change focus to battle for Kyiv
The former British diplomat Emma Le Mesurier has long focused on the Middle East, but is now at the helm
CHINA/FRANCE/RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : NASA/Roscosmos, DGSE, Beijing's central military committee
United States/Russia: Roscosmos to provide security to NASA officersCivil space affairs remain largely unaffected by the ripple effect of the
EUROPE/UNITED STATES : Booz Allen Hamilton provides US Army's German base with intelligence experts on Europe and Africa
The US defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) is reinforcing its teams in Germany. It is currently still looking for:
UKRAINE : Kyiv turns to start-ups in crusade against Iranian drones
As we understand, DroneUA, Matrix UAV and Ukrspecsystems are already beginning to design anti-drone equipment. These three start-ups were each
CHINA/JAPAN/RUSSIA : Tokyo mobilises surveillance systems over China-Russia deals in Indo-Pacific
The Japanese Foreign Ministry's National Security Policy Division (NSPD) has been closely monitoring an emergency mission. On 25 June, the Russian deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko travelled...
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : North Korean labourers ready to start rebuilding the Donbass in mid-July
The first groups of North Korean workers recruited by Russia to carry out reconstruction work in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine
OMAN : Mohammed Sultan Al Naamani, the mediator at the heart of Muscat's security apparatus
The daily stream of diplomats and spy chiefs through the offices of Mohammed Sultan Al Naamani, head of the Royal
JAPAN : Shunju Tsugihagi, Tokyo hideaway for Japanese counter-espionage agents
In a country that puts a premium on discretion and attention to detail, it can be surprisingly hard to find
INDONESIA : Indonesia's new capital city project Nusantara struggles to convince French investors
Bambang Susantono, the head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (NCA), the body in charge of Indonesia's new capital city project, received
EGYPT/ISRAEL : How Bler sold its OSINT wares to Egypt's technical intelligence agency
The strategy pursued by Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) company Bler (IO, 15/06/23) of breaking up into a small network
FRANCE/RUSSIA : From Monaco to Dubai, the revival of French investigators specialising in the Russian market
Under the patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco, the exhibition of underwater photos "Planète Mer", which runs until the end
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US tech groups stealthily absorb Chinese skills to win friends in Beijing
There is a growing trend among US groups with offices in China to only offer certain roles to Chinese executives,
UNITED STATES : The Singer Foundation: a vehicle to promote the pet causes of Elliott Management's founder
The application deadline recently closed for the Krauthammer Fellowship, which offers 15 positions annually for "aspiring writers, journalists, scholars, and
RUSSIA : Kremlin sends in star private consultant Firdus Aliyev to bring opposition LPDR party into line
Political strategist and "politechnologist" Firdus Aliyev, who is close to the Kremlin, is expected to take up a position shortly
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Crypto investigator Chainalysis keen for more from French market
The US firm Chainalysis chose its most Francophile executive, Caroline Malcolm to address the audience gathered at the VivaTech fair
ISRAEL : In change of stance, Shin Bet envisages major operation in West Bank
For a long time, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar was opposed to a major military operation in the West Bank,
GERMANY/AZERBAIJAN/BULGARIA : Overgas studies Uniper's Socar partnership as it tries to get Caspian gas to Europe
Private sector Bulgarian gas company Overgas, which is looking to transport its gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe via
UNITED STATES : Earth observation SPACs seek best political and financial strategy
Shares in the US satellite company Planet fell 25% in a single day on 9 June, on the back of disappointing quarterly results, after
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/MEXICO : US military trains Mexican cy... Council of Europe looks for cyber advisers, L3Harris for AFRL
Mexico - US cyber fighters train Mexican personnel Lacking expertise in cyber, the Mexican armed forces have turned to their
CHINA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : China's Piesat trades with Moscow to deploy drones in Ukraine
As we understand, the Chinese firm Piesat Information Technology has quietly been trading commercial drones to the Russian armed forces over the past few weeks. The company did not start out as a...
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : GPW struck off, ex-CIA goes private, Aperio, ADIT exit, and Nardello newbie
London - GPW is dead, long live JS Held UKA few days before announcing its takeover of African intelligence and
KYRGYZSTAN : Kyrgyz spy chief sets sights on the presidency with Russian backing
After having acted to consolidate the influence of his clan at the State Committee for National Security (GKNB, IO, 20/06/23),
UNITED STATES/UZBEKISTAN : Uzbekistan ropes in Ecology Mir Group to help it procure arms in the US
Although Tashkent is keen to maintain good relations with Moscow, Ankara (IO, 06/07/22) and Beijing, it is in the United
FRANCE/OMAN : Paris tries to connect with Haitham bin Tarik's inner circle
Global Diwan is to have yet another Gulf princess as its chair. Following Hala bint Khaled bin Sultan al Saud,
EUROPE : EU Parliament seeks to tighten control over European zero day vulnerability market
The final recommendations of the PEGA committee, which was set up by the European Parliament to look into the scandal
UNITED KINGDOM : British embassy in Riyadh springboard for retired diplomats' private sector careers
The British public affairs firm Sovereign Strategy narrowly escaped being struck-off the companies' register on 13 June, but founder and executive chairman Alan Donnelly, a veteran of Labour netw...
RUSSIA : FSB flagged civil dissidence to avoid talk of internal shortcomings
At midday on Saturday, when paramilitary group Wagner's rebellion was in full swing, Vladimir Putin handed the reins over to
FRANCE/KUWAIT : Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Salem Al-Sabah in Paris to boost bilateral relationship
There's a meeting planned with his counterpart Catherine Colonna, another with the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Olivier Becht, yet
UNITED KINGDOM : Parliamentary oversight loses ground to Downing Street
The latest clash between 10 Downing Street and the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reveals the committee's increasingly
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : French and Saudi space goals could align neatly
Saudi Arabia is on the lookout for spatial partners. On 21 June, at Le Pré Catelan, a three-star restaurant in
FRANCE/VIETNAM : Vietnamese air force sounds out French firms on training cooperation at Paris Air Show
General Vu Hong Son, deputy commander of the Vietnam People's Air Force, who attended the Paris Air Show in Le
FRANCE : ADIT edges closer to taking control of DCI
As Intelligence Online understands, ADIT is about to complete the first step to becoming the new owner of Défense Conseil
UNITED STATES : Pallas v. Pallas: Jeff Bezos's influential Pentagon fixer Sally Donnelly squares up to former Musk employees
Sally Donnelly's company filed a complaint for trademark infringement against the defence investments consulting firm Pallas Industries on 12 June at the Columbia
SWITZERLAND : Switzerland's ALR helps French military analyse Russian fighter jets
To cope with the sheer mass of military information arising from the war in Ukraine, the French air force's technical
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Yorktown Systems Group recruits intelligence reinforcements for US forces in Europe
The human (HUMINT), image (IMINT) and open source intelligence (OSINT) experts recruited in recent months by US company Yorktown Systems Group (YSG) are gradually moving into their posts within t...
FRANCE : French government opposes extending reach of private security watchdog CNAPS to overseas
A confidential French government report that Intelligence Online has had access to opposes propositions made 18 months ago by MPs Jean-Michel Fauvergue,
AFRICA/GERMANY : Aerodata equips Abidjan's surveillance aircraft to fight piracy
Intelligence Online has learned that two Beechcraft King Air aircraft are currently being fitted out with tools aimed to provide
CHINA/FRANCE/IRAQ/UKRAINE : More OSINT for French embassies... Iraq, Chinese Communist Youth League lines up with Xi Jinping
France - French foreign ministry pushes for greater use of OSINT in French embassiesUnder the supervision of Charles Thepaut, under-director
RUSSIA : Rebellion: An underground network of Russian officers lent Wagner a helping hand
In the aftermath of the weekend's rebellion, the question of internal support for the Wagner parastatal militia has been raised.
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/POLAND : From Wiesbaden to a Polish NATO base, Washington beefs up military presence in Europe
The United States has been building up its permanent military infrastructure in Europe under the command of the United States
FRANCE : DPR to mount united front in the French Senate in support of CNCTR
France's military planning law is set to be debated publicly in the Senate from 27 June onwards, but already senators
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Scopa Industries tries to show its good faith in the US after courting China and Russia
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Paris on 19 June between Airbus Group and Scopa Industries, the defence branch
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/RUSSIA : Tensions simmer between UN and ICC over report on Russia
The early release of the United Nations report on the rights of children affected by armed conflict, which puts Russia on the UN's blacklist on the matter, is the latest move in a subtle but inte...
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/BELARUS : Washington and Moscow play smoke and mirrors on nuclear dissuasion
The American intelligence community and administration gave no official indication of their disquiet over Russia's preparations for the deployment of
ARMENIA : Split between generations in Armen Abazyan's National Security Service
Moscow's role as coordinator of the negotiations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani heads of state is even causing divisions in
UAE : Tashas, the concept café that caught the eye of Emirati sheikhs and businessmen
In the mornings, on the terrace of Tashas Al Jalila, in the heart of Dubai's Umm Suqeim residential district, it
THAILAND : Thailand's RV Connex, local partner of foreign defence companies, under political pressure
The electoral victory of Thailand's opposition party Move Forward on 14 May augurs badly for the Thai defence company RV Connex.
UNITED STATES : Social Links makes play for Maltego's investigation platform market share
Intelligence Online understands that the open source intelligence firm Social Links has developed a solution intended to rival German Maltego Technologies' investigation and visualisation
FRANCE/RUSSIA : French corporate intelligence firm Axis watches over battle for Danone's Russian assets
Less than two weeks away from a final decision on the sale of Danone's Russian activities, on 3 July, the
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Sandra Zhang, linchpin of China's nuclear strategy in Argentina
The painstaking persuasion mission undertaken by consultant Sandra Zhang in Buenos Aires over the past two years on behalf of
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Republicans oppose US financing of Lebanese Armed Forces
In its 2024 budget proposal published on 14 June, the Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group of conservative Republicans in
CHINA/EUROPE/INDIA/UNITED STATES : China makes strides in precision geostationary satellite imagery thanks to US research
In a sign of how sensitive China is on the subject, data on China's Gaofen 13 geostationary civil observation satellite
UNITED KINGDOM : Martin Clements, Ultra's guardian and cyber prospector in Zurich
Martin Clements, the former head of technology at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), to which MI6 is attached,
AFRICA/ISRAEL : Ex-justice minister's nephew Abraham Sako helps Israel's Kaymera Technologies in Guinea
The Israeli cybersecurity firm Kaymera Technologies has been pitching its secure communications solutions to Guinea's presidential administration, headed by the
SOUTH KOREA : South Korea's SI Analytics to track North Korean missile launch sites
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) is currently testing new software designed to detect North Korean ballistic missile launch sites. Designed by SI Analytics, a South Korean compan...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ITALY/JAPAN/SINGAPORE : Italians turno...ngapore office, ShadowDragon in Japan, Google back at Pentagon
Prague: Italian technical intelligence providers out in force at ISS As we understand, Italian intelligence providers made a strong turnout
ISRAEL/JAPAN : Cyber expert Norihiko Ishihara links up Tokyo, New York and Tel Aviv
Noriko Endo's recent arrival as an adviser at the corporate intelligence firm Veracity Worldwide (IO, 22/06/23) sheds light on her
United States : Imagery wars: Pentagon impervious to SAR constellation firms' demonstrations
The radar satellite imagery startup Capella Space could have done without losing satellites in recent solar storms (IO, 13/06/23). According to our sources, at
CANADA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Will Jen...sed from GPW, Veracity in Tokyo, and ADIT boosts Canada office
London - Will Jenkins dismissed from JS Held Only three months into the job, Will Jenkins has been let go
UNITED KINGDOM : Simone Finn reunited with Bahraini client at FMAP
Britain's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which vets retired public servants' private sector activities, approved Baroness Simone Finn's plans earlier
CANADA : Chinese interference issue haunts Canadian intelligence harming Five Eyes relationship
By-elections in four Canadian districts on 19 June were closely scrutinised by the intelligence community, whose specially-established Security and Intelligence Threats
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/MACEDONIA : Ukraine war boosts General Dynamics' outlook in Eastern Europe
NATO member (IO, 12/12/22) North Macedonia, who joined the alliance in 2020, is in the process of reinforcing its military.
UNITED STATES : Biden bribery probe: Republican strategist Dan Senor linked to Hunter Biden's ex-business partner
Pentagon veteran and Elliott Management strategist Dan Senor is likely to have closely followed the testimony of Devon Archer before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on June 16.The pa...
CHINA/UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : State Security wary of Rhodium Group's China research
The publication, due this Thursday, 22 June, of a report from the research team specialised on China, Rhodium Group, has
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : Threatened by takeover, DCI goes all out to land export contracts
Samuel Fringant, CEO of the French defence services firm Défense Conseil International (DCI), is battling to prevent the sale of the
KYRGYZSTAN : Kyrgyz spy chief tries to shut down intelligence service rivalries after "coup" arrests
As some 30 people were being arrested on 5 June for allegedly having fomented rioting and a coup attempt, the
VIETNAM : Round two in Leonardo-Thales tussle over Hanoi radar contract
The intense battle for influence in Vietnam between Thales and Leonardo has ramped up a notch, as the latter calls out what it believes are procedural glitches.Thales is still convinced that Leon...
UKRAINE : ICEYE tests its latest technology in Ukraine
ICEYE, the Finnish company headed by Rafal Modrzewski specialising in satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, recently made available its
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED STATES : Baku strengthens its ties with US conservative networks
On 1 June, Ezra Friedlander, head of Brooklyn-based The Friedlander Consulting Group, retained reinforcements to help out with the firm's
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : High security rolled out before Ukraine Recovery Conference in London
The extensive security arrangements surrounding the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), due to be held in London on 21 and 22
RUSSIA : Presidential administration steps up its covert mobilisation effort
The presidential administration's powerful domestic policy directorate, headed by senior civil servant Andrei Yarin (IO, 20/05/22), has issued a series
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL/NORWAY : Regulators play catchup as intelligence services develop taste for cookie datasets
The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)'s report on commercially available intelligence that was declassified on 9
RUSSIA : In Moscow's high circles, militias fight over material resources
While the popularity of Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who heads the Wagner militia, is well on the rise according
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Hugh Trenchard, former British envoy to Japan and private investigation's linchpin in Tokyo
Michael Bevan and Nick Alcock's British firm Good Governance Group (G3) is making efforts to improve its presence in Japan,
IRAQ/THAILAND/UKRAINE/MYANMAR : Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, NUG in Bangkok, secret classification in Kyiv
Iraq - Hashd Al Shabi denied anniversary parade As the Hashd Al Shabi, or Popular Mobilization Forces (IO, 31/05/23), was
CHINA/UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Washington to foot bill for replacing Chinese CCTV suppliers
In the next few weeks, Ukraine's border guard service (DPSU, IO, 21/02/22) is due to receive a new mobile video
SWITZERLAND : Encryption firm Asperiq takes over from fallen CIA-controlled Crypto AG
The Swiss-based crypto company Crypto International (formerly Crypto AG) is about to close up shop, Intelligence Online understands. The firm
EUROPE : Freeze and Seize squad champions EU action on Russian sanctions
As we understand, the members of the European Commission's discreet Freeze and Seize Task Force are to meet at the end of the month, only their second time in person, to coordinate the soon-to-be...
NORTH KOREA : Seoul refines its analysis of Kim Jong-un's potential successor
The fact that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is set to begin military training with the Korean
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Non-profit body Popular Unity is present in Russian political and security circles and the Donbass
Behind the front line, Russia's influence community, which is close to the intelligence services, is redoubling its efforts in the
LITHUANIA/UKRAINE : Data and intelligence security at centre of Ukrainian tax office reform
Lithuania is taking the lead on a new automated big data processing system for the Ukrainian tax office, the DPS (Derjavna
TAIWAN : Yang Jing-se, the Taiwanese general trying to get military intelligence back on its feet
The director of Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB), Yang Jing-se, is increasingly sought after, especially now that the two main
CHINA/UNITED STATES/LAOS : Sparks fly between China and West over Laos power production
For weeks now, diplomats from Western countries in Laos have been meeting up, talking with economists, swapping notes and figures,
AUSTRALIA/FRANCE : RAID draws on Australia's FiveCast OSINT expertise
France's police force intervention unit, RAID, has begun to use an open source intelligence (OSINT) platform run by Australia's FiveCast.
UAE/IRAN : Shamkhani's Dubai-based businesses exposed after dismissal
Late May, Ali Shamkhani (IO, 06/05/22) was replaced by Pasdaran Ali Akbar Ahmadian (IO, 05/06/23), as Secretary General of the Iranian Supreme
UNITED KINGDOM : 1 Lombard Street, the classy City restaurant popular among private sleuths
If you head to the bar of 1 Lombard Street, you are sure to come across a private detective or
UKRAINE : Complaints rain down on Ukraine's economic intelligence service
A temporary investigation committee has delivered its preliminary findings on the Ukrainian economic security bureau, the BEB, to the prosecutor general.
UKRAINE : Ukrainian armed forces seeks to poach International Legion's more experienced vets
The 78th Airborne Assault Regiment, plans for which were drawn up in April 2022, currently has no troops with battle
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Mamedova spearheads British push into Caspian Sea region
Consultant Gulya Mamedova celebrated the 10th anniversary of her firm Princeps Legem, the usual point of contact for British oil
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL/UKRAINE : ICEYE lends Kyiv a sa...cyber secures the Navy, Danny Yatom, Viginum changes watchlist
Kyiv: ICEYE provides satellite to GUR The Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery specialist ICEYE has, according to our
FRANCE : Delfox poised to become DGA's underwater drone programme supplier
The French startup Delfox, headed by former Atos engineer Maxime Rey, is set to become a major contributor to the French
ISRAEL : Espy, the visible part of BLER's OSINT universe
Espy, the ambitious Singapore-based open source, or OSINT, firm, sent representatives to the ISS World intelligence fair in Prague on
UKRAINE : Mathesis moves into Asia and Latin America
Ukrainian intelligence service provider Mathesis is planning an international tour to promote its Harvester multi-source mass data analysis platform, which it plans to present at the forthcoming ...
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Full programme of MbS's semi-private visit to Paris revealed
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) left Jeddah on 14 June and is due
UNITED STATES : Episode 2: FTI wins prestige clients due to Ferrante's Washington connections
As an executive at FTI Consulting, retired FBI official Anthony Ferrante has aggressively courted employees from the ranks of former
UAE/EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : Waters exits JS Held, Spottiswoode off to Alaco, Wallbrook grows, EEAS relaunches EUCAP
London: JS Held lets Waters goPhoebe Waters, who previously worked for the reputation defence firm Schillings, which employs lawyers and
UNITED KINGDOM : Gerrard and del Rosso, caught up in RAKIA wrangle, launch two-pronged attack on ENRC
Former Dechert partner Neil Gerrard filed an application for discovery against veteran private investigator Yuri Koshkin in the US's court for the Southern District of Florida
UNITED STATES : DIA called to strengthen intelligence efforts against China
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), like other parts of the US intelligence community, is being called on to make China
RUSSIA : Armaments conglomerate Kalashnikov boosts its drone production
The Novyy Dom shopping centre in Izhevsk, capital of the Udmurt Republic in the Russian Federation, will undergo a radical
UKRAINE : Ukrainian know-how still exporting to Africa, despite the war
Russia may be doing its best to keep in with its African partners, however the latter has been careful not
UNITED STATES : Episode 1: FBI vet and FTI exec Ferrante, t...ose parties attract the cream of Washington's security circles
When a group of retired federal prosecutors gathered for an "alumni reunion" hosted by FTI Consulting in late-May, they were greeted by a contingent of former law enforcement colleagues who work ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Anthesis-Wallbrook merger relaunches ESG investigations market
The takeover of investigations company Wallbrook by environment, social and governance (ESG) advisory specialist Anthesis Group, which was finally announced
FRANCE : Tracfin executives' exodus to private sector continues
Intelligence Online understands that the head of Tracfin's intelligence and counter-terrorism department, Julien Amode, will soon be leaving the service.
RUSSIA : Moscow worried about underground dissenter officers club
They call themselves patriots and claim the invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February 2022 is a "failure of
CHINA/ITALY : Beijing battles to keep Rome on the New Silk Road
Italian entrepreneurs and consultants who are very involved in the Chinese market were recently contacted one by one by staff
Europe/France/Japan/South Korea : Tokyo and Seoul go all in for Airbus imagery
According to our sources, orders for images by the South Korean army and intelligence services from the Pleiades Neo observation
OMAN : Al Rasiyat Middle East carves out role as main agent for defence contracts in Oman
In early June, the director of Omani defence distributor Al Rasiyat Middle East Sheikh Yasr bin Abdullah bin Said al-Rawas
SOUTH AMERICA : Finnish SAR imaging specialist ICEYE moves into South America
According to our sources, the Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite company ICEYE is shortly to sign a partnership agreement with
FRANCE : Fiducial challenges Erys over alleged armed security shortcomings in France
Christophe Beuzit, the former director of training at France's national gendarmerie who now heads enhanced security at Fiducial's security branch, has
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Radio silence from operators on solar storm damage to observation satellites
The solar storms of 2023 have had a massive impact on low-earth orbit satellites, and their knock-on effect is now
CHINA/VIETNAM : Vietnamese Viettel's war against Huawei on hold while political power struggle plays out
The Vietnamese army conglomerate Viettel is keeping a close eye on the power-struggle brewing in the government and the Vietnamese Communist Party. The word in Hanoi is that Prime Minister Pham M...
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Expo 2030: Hopscotch oversees low-key Saudi lobbying in Paris
Riyadh's campaign to host World Expo 2030 is accelerating. Saudi minister of investment Khaled Al-Falih will be in Paris on
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Moscow signals operational purpose for its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus
Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been in transit to Belarus since 25 May, but there's currently no indication of work
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Khaldoon in Paris...intelligence budget and Russian housing for Ukrainian veterans
France/UAE: Khaldoon al-Mubarak in Paris for the strategic dialogueThe chairman of the United Arab Emirates's Executive Affairs Authority, Khaldoon al-Mubarak,
TURKEY : Erdogan tightens grip on MIT with appointment of Kalin
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed his foreign affairs adviser Ibrahim Kalin to replace long-serving Hakan Fidan as head of Turkey's intelligence service, the MIT
FRANCE/OMAN : Oman opens ports to French Navy submarines
Intelligence Online understands that French nuclear-powered attack submarines are to be allowed to moor in Oman's ports under an agreement
FRANCE/INDONESIA/QATAR : Jakarta Mirage contract sparks war of influence among service providers
It's among the contracts that are bound to cause a stir in the French aisles of the 54th edition of
FRANCE : French interior ministry's grand Cyber III programme invests heavily in open source
The French interior ministry's tender call for its grand, four-year Cyber III investment plan, which was keenly awaited in the
UNITED STATES/SERBIA : Belgrade quietly builds rapprochement with US as Ukraine war continues
Though seen as pro-Russian, the Serbian government has intensified its partnership with Washington behind the scenes in recent months. Belgrade has a discreet player to help with the task: US con...
RUSSIA : Intelligence lawmaker trio tightens rules on state secrets
United Russia MPs Vasily Piskarev, Ernest Valeev and Anatoly Vyborny, respectively the president and vice-presidents of the Russian parliamentary security and anti-corruption committee,
UNITED KINGDOM : New GCHQ boss Anne Keast-Butler to speed up transformation of UK intelligence
In May, the appointment of Anne Keast-Butler as director of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) coincided with the promotion of another
BELARUS : Belarusian border guards change chief as crisis brews
The recently appointed Konstantin Molostov has a lot on his plate since taking up his new role last month as
HUNGARY : Szentendre, a hub for Serbian and Russian handlers in Europe
With a forest to one side and the River Danube to the other, the picturesque Hungarian town of Szentendre (or
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : World Bank to share best practices with CIS statistics committee
The Russian auditing and consulting firm Co-Invest completed a month-long project for the Washington-based World Bank - a body whose main financial
FRANCE : James Tamblin leaves BlueVoyant to fly solo again with Ecognito
James Tamblin has left his position as vice chair of BlueVoyant, the company that bought his cyber firm Marclay Associates
UNITED STATES : Cyber investigator Naxo stands up to US government in first NFT insider trading case
A few days after a jury declared Nathaniel Chastain guilty of fraud and money laundering, the accused requested again to
UNITED STATES : US State Department beats ODNI to leadership of new anti-disinformation initiative
US President Joe Biden entrusted Secretary of State Antony Blinken with formulating a strategy on combatting North Korea's repressive information
UNITED STATES : Former CIA director John Brennan's transiti...rivate sector threatened with legal action by his shareholders
The share price of California-based ImmunityBio Inc., whose board of directors includes former CIA Director John Brennan, plummeted to around
MYANMAR : U Yang Ho, the businessman championing Beijing's energy interests in Myanmar
U Yang Ho, the vice-president of the Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MCCOC) and CEO of the Mottama Holdings conglomerate,
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Babel Street for ASD, STL ...on French ships, Michael Johns joins JSI, SITENJ's GPS beacons
Canberra - Babel Street goes deeper into Australian OSINT marketThe US open source intelligence, or OSINT, company Babel Street, headed
EUROPE : NATO seeks imagery for its Aquila virtual constellation project
Discussions got underway at NATO in Brussels last month between the alliance and European and American geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT, companies, for
ISRAEL : Former Senai exec Roy Shloman blossoms in Israeli cyber
In May, XYZ Elements, a company specialising in open source intelligence (OSINT), was in the Emirates to demonstrate its technologies.
UNITED STATES : The tectonic shift in geospatial intelligence after Maxar delisting
The strategic and commercial impact of imagery specialist and satellite builder Maxar's shock delisting is only just beginning to take effect. But already for industry players, its acquisition on...
UAE/RUSSIA/SINGAPORE : Investigator Gambit Universal teams up with digital intelligence specialist MatchSystems
Russian investigator Pavel Tokarev's Dubai-based corporate intelligence company Gambit Universal, registered in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone, signed
CHINA/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : A likely Chinese PMC in Londo... staff, DGBI falls back on Geneva, Diligence veteran goes solo
London/Shanghai - A possible Chinese PMC in London On 17 May, Stingray International PMC was registered in London as a
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : In London and Paris, intelligence overseers in uproar over government investment security plans
France's parliamentary intelligence delegation, the DPR (Délégation parlementaire au renseignement), chaired by the MP Sacha Houlié, is not overly enthusiastic
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Race to lead French business interests in Saudi Arabia in full swing
The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille, will not, in the end, take over from Anne Guéguen as head
ISRAEL/SWITZERLAND : Trade Spot, Israeli cyberintelligence firm Cognyte's Swiss-Cypriot relay
Cyprus's pivotal role in Israeli cyber-tool exports was highlighted recently by the European parliament's PEGA commission, launched in the wake
UNITED STATES : Alexander El-Fakir lands at China-sceptic US tech fund backed by Eric Schmidt and Peter Thiel
The Quad Investors Network, an invitation-only group of technology investors and executives from Australia, India, Japan, and the US that aims to foster joint investment by the four countries in ...
UNITED STATES : Cosmos Club's new president Michael Pocalyko comes with Saudi baggage
Michael Pocalyko, the CEO of a private investigative firm involved in the forced return to Saudi Arabia of a trans
FRANCE/INDONESIA/QATAR : The key players behind the discreet sale of Qatari Mirages to Jakarta
Technicians from the French parastatal company Défense Conseil International (DCI) in Doha are currently preparing the transfer of the 12 Dassault
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : French investment fund Latour Capital prepares to prospect in Gulf countries
Cédric Bannel's spy novel "The Phantoms of Kyiv", released on 4 May, is all about a DGSE agent who foils
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : US missions in Brussels facing internal imbalances
The three American diplomatic missions in Brussels, namely the US embassy, the US mission to NATO (USNATO) and the US
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : From rabbi to US-Israel go-between, Irwin Katsof turns attentions to Riyadh
He has been variously a rabbi, writer, trade adviser to the US government and couples therapist, and the next stop on Irwin Katsof's winding career path appears to be Riyadh. A consultant to the ...
SOUTH KOREA : Seoul reactivates all influence channels against Pyongyang in Europe
The symposium on North Korea held on 30 May in Berlin at the Grand Hyatt hotel on Potsdamer Platz marked
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Thales Parade system prepped to defend Kyiv against Iranian and Russian drones
As we understand, French group Thales is hoping to export its anti-drone tools to Ukraine and even transfer its technology
KAZAKHSTAN : Rustam Jursunov, defending entrepreneurs from proposed asset hunt legislation
The latest bill on the hunt and restitution of ill-gotten assets adopted by Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament, the Majilis,
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russian officers execute their wounded in Luhansk to prevent intelligence leaks
The International Legion for the Territorial Defence of Ukraine, which holds part of the front in the Luhansk region, has
SYRIA/TURKEY : Turkish MIT-backed Syrian factions step up support following Erdogan win
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election on 28 May marked a victory not only for his spymaster Hakan Fidan (IO, 31/05/23)
FRANCE/IRAQ/IRAN/ROMANIA/RUSSIA/VIETNAM : Vietnam's MPS, Qa...Al Araji in Tehran, France's new South East Asia diplomat, FSB
Vietnam - To Lam wants to further condense public security hierarchy When talking to parliament on 27 May, Vietnam's all-powerful
FRANCE/ITALY/VIETNAM : Thales and Leonardo fight for influence in Hanoi
In Vietnam, the French group Thales and its Italian competitor Leonardo are engaged in a tightly pitched battle surrounding contracts
ISRAEL : Quadream's legal counsel Vibeke Dank close to Israeli defence ministry
The remaining associates of the Israeli cyber-intelligence company Quadream, which has never really recovered from a tangle with its Cyprus-based
ISRAEL/ITALY : Italian and Israeli intelligence officers angry over naming of Lake Maggiore capsize victims
The capsize of the tourist vessel Goduria on Lake Maggiore on 28 May, in which two Italian intelligence officers, an Israeli agent and the wife of the boat's skipper lost their lives, continues t...
FRANCE : Security firms fuming over TotalEnergies Tripoli contract
Intelligence Online's sources say TotalEnergies' Libyan subsidiary has sparked fury among the French giant's usual security suppliers by awarding its
UNITED STATES/JAPAN : Behind the scenes of Japan's talks with US over NATO
As we understand, the G7 summit in Hiroshima in late May put an end to any talk of Japan joining
KUWAIT : Bachar Kiwan gets UN consolation over his Kuwait conviction
The Franco-Syrian tycoon Bachar Kiwan takes great pride in referring to a recent ruling by the United Nations Human Rights
POLAND : Radoslaw Jaworski, safeguarding Poland's institutions
On 12 June, Radoslaw Jaworski will lead the official celebrations at his first-ever 'State Protection Service Day' since taking up
UNITED STATES : K2 investigates the world of beauty
A Miami-area beauty and haircare company hired K2 Integrity to gather evidence of fraud and unjust enrichment against a recently
INDONESIA : Jakarta's Sari Pacific, a historic spot for Australian spies
The Sari Pacific, an iconic hotel in central Jakarta, could once more become the hotspot for Australian spies in Indonesia,
UNITED STATES/SINGAPORE : ST Engineering builds up its presence in Washington as it looks to boost its drone capacities
Singapore, which is already in the process of becoming the US's major hub for drone surveillance of China in South
ISRAEL : NSO's big data successor Bold looks to expand in Europe
Israeli big data firm Bold Analytics has recently started developing its business in Northern Europe and is currently searching for a head of
CHINA : New factions: Xi Jinping's right-hand man, Cai Qi, heads powerful Fujian clique
Cai Qi's appointment as Xi Jinping's chief of staff on 20 March marks a major turning point for the so-called
UNITED STATES : Leading private investigators Fusion and Gu...st clash over role of journalist-consultant in Pishevar affair
Key questions posed in a lawsuit filed by venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar - who forged a phony police report that
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Former PM Raffarin helps Saudi-French Business Council aiming for involvement in MbS's projects
Held on 25 May in Riyadh, the Saudi-French Business Council (CAFS) saw Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Jacques Chirac's former Prime Minister (2002-2005),
FRANCE : Gabriel Attal's tax intelligence unit idea faces headwinds
France's parliamentary intelligence delegation, DPR, will shortly question Guillaume Valette-Valla, the director of the Tracfin financial intelligence service, about his
CHINA/UNITED STATES/THAILAND : Thai defence firm ACEIS clarifies links with China to lure US
Bangkok-based firm ACEIS Electric & Power, headed by US businessman Salvador Sanchez Ahumada, recently clinched a strategic partnership with Thailand's
SAUDI ARABIA/CHILE/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Cognyte looks to ...Technologies tries Riyadh, Sayari wins US Coast Guard contract
Santiago: Cognyte goes after Southern Cone marketIsraeli company Cognyte, the cyber offensive spin-off of Israeli defence group Verint, has secured
FINLAND : New NATO member Finland launches electronic warfare overhaul
Faced with a Russian threat on its borders, Finland has launched a major plan to re-equip its forces with technical
FRANCE : Defence minister's carrot and stick approach to retain cyber talent
In a proposed amendment to the French military programming law (LPM) filed on 17 May, the rapporteur of the chapter
UKRAINE : Infozahyst plays key role in Ukrainian intel gathering from captured Russian equipment
The annual meeting of the Association of Old Crows (AOC), which brings together electronic warfare specialists from all over the world, took place in Bonn, Germany on 17 May. Among the participan...
UKRAINE : Chinese surveillance firms Hikvision and Dahua targeted by Ukrainian investigators
The release of images of Kyiv's anti-aircraft defences on several Russian Telegram channels, shortly after missile attacks on 16 May,
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : K2, ENEC and Peterson, Guidehouse
New York - K2 quietly demotes co-CEO In yet another change for K2 Integrity (formerly K2 Intelligence), co-managing director Andrew
IRAQ/TURKEY : Turkey's MIT hands control of Makhmur refugee camp to Baghdad
Having put all of his energy in the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's election campaign, which he won on Sunday,
RUSSIA : Kremlin's protection arm prevails in information war
The FSO, in addition to handling security at the Kremlin and other critical buildings as well as state communications as
UNITED STATES : L3Harris faces lawsuit from ex-business facilitator
A complaint filed on 18 May by C2 Associates Business Strategy & Development sheds light on the team that until
SOUTH KOREA : S2W pins hopes for EU breakthrough on language model trained on dark web
S2W, a South Korean start-up specialising in cyber threat intelligence (CTI), is preparing to enter the European market, and on
UNITED STATES : FBI alerted of Russian oil trader Niels Troost's secret US business interests
Dutch oil trader Niels Troost, who has reportedly played a major role in brokering sales of Russian crude, secretly co-owned a California-based shell company until at least mid-May, Intelligence ...
FRANCE : Council of State rejects private investigator Sanier's appeal in case against industry watchdog
On 24 May, France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, turned down an appeal lodged by the corporate intelligence
RUSSIA : Oligarch Vladimir Potanin financing black PR campaigns against Western sanctions
Intelligence Online understands that Russian businessman Vladimir Potanin has for some weeks been funding an informal Kremlin-commissioned communications project aimed
FRANCE : DGSE relocation pushed back by two years
As previously announced by Intelligence Online (IO, 09/05/23), the completion of the future headquarters of France's external intelligence service, the
BELARUS : Loyal lieutenant Nikolai Karpenkov prepares for post-Lukashenko
Over the last few weeks, deputy interior minister Nikolai Karpenkov, who heads both the internal special troops as well as
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Tikehau, Ardian, Rothschild, Bpifrance: French funds woo Al Othaim clan
French investors have been taking a keen interest in Saudi Arabian family business owned by the Al Othaim family. Last
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Intelligence firm Raedas donates to NGO helping rebuild Ukraine
London investigator Andrew Wordsworth is walking a fine line. As Intelligence Online has learned, he is donating some of the
ISRAEL : Cyberintelligence firm Blue Ocean's mystery clients revealed
The Israeli cyber firm Blue Ocean Entreprises has landed a contract with Singapore, Intelligence Online can reveal, solving the mystery
CHINA : Premier Li Qiang plies pressure on China International Capital Corp boss
The restructuring of Chinese investment bank China International Capital Corp (CICC), which began a few weeks ago, is a matter of concern for chief executive Shen Rujun. Intelligence Online under...
FRANCE : French DGSE's technical department opens up to innovation cooperation
A comment in French majority MP Jean-Michel Jacques's report on the 2024-2030 military appropriations bill, currently being debated in parliament,
UNITED STATES/INDIA : India and US shore up border surveillance on China
Despite his concerted efforts, Ajit Doval, India's all-powerful national security adviser and the architect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategic
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Washington lobbyists plead Kazakh protesters' cause in US
Matt Lauer and Grace Fenstermaker, respectively director general and associate partner of Qorvis, began lobbying in Washington on behalf of Kazakh businessman Arman Dzhumageldiyev on
CHINA/FRANCE/RUSSIA : FSO, ex-COS in Abu Dhabi, NATO and Taiwan, DNI in demand on drones
Russia - FSO regulates military service The Kremlin's protection arm, the FSO, now has the mandate to determine how individuals
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : US prepares new regional intel hub within forthcoming Beirut embassy
Building on its excellent intelligence partnership with Beirut, Washington is determined to maintain - and even expand - its presence
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE/GREECE : Indictment exposes SVR industrial spy's former defence partners
Nikolaos Bogonikolos's indictment on 16 May, following his arrest in Paris in a joint DGSI-FBI sting seven days earlier, is
UKRAINE : Ukrainian and Western intelligence services consider options for collaboration on vetting foreign combatants
Kyiv is seeking to improve its processes for vetting foreign combatants fighting in its ranks. To that end, representatives of the Ukrainian security service (SBU) met privately with their counte...
UKRAINE : Culture ministry pursues PR drive to promote security forces
The defence ministry's information directorate, the GUR, is taking great care of its image (IO, 19/09/22) and its public messaging.
FRANCE : Grace Café, where European intelligence officers like to take tea in Paris
The Parisian-style English tea room, the Grace Café in Paris's Rue de Commaille, regularly serves a clientele which is a
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Engineer Howard Lyn consolidates energy relations between London and Baku
British engineer Howard Lyn has been busy ahead of the 28th edition of the Baku Energy Forum, which will bring
ISRAEL : ADINT offers Israeli cyber a healthy alternative
According to our information, Adhoc, an Israeli company that specialises in geolocation through advertising intelligence (ADINT), has been trying to
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : London keeps on private security provider in Moscow
Nortel Security, a private security company (or "chop" as it is known in Russian), will have its contract with the
SINGAPORE : Lee Yi-Jin, Singapore's digital intelligence chief, defines scope of defence cyber influence
General Lee Yi-Jin has been entrusted with shaping Singapore's military cyber activities as head of Singapore's Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), launched last October. While the
UNITED STATES : Robert Sharp, the latest serial GEOINT consultant
The US geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) start-up Albedo is the latest company to enlist the services of Robert Sharp, former director
TURKEY : Turkey's Aselsan beefs up social media monitoring with natural language processing team
Turkey's defence and electronics parastatal Aselsan has set up a natural language processing (NLP) unit led by Turkish researcher Cagri Toraman, an expert in that field. The academic, who was hir...
CYPRUS/UNITED KINGDOM : Oligarchs' fixers look for fixers of their own to help them escape sanctions
Intelligence Online understands that Cypriot lawyer Christodoulos Vassiliades is moving heaven and earth in Nicosia and London to try to
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : Artemis rolls out a...chael Clark at US Cybercom PEO, Orchestra closes London office
Creil - Artemis roll-out speeds upThe roll-out of ARTEMIS IA (Architecture de Traitement et d'Exploitation Massive de l'Information Multi-Sources et
UNITED STATES : US State Department's intelligence service bolsters recruitment strategy to attract specialists
Intelligence Online understands that the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) is honing its recruitment processes to reflect
RUSSIA : United Shipbuilding Corp plans to expand its activities in the Russian Far East
State-owned shipbuilder United Shipbuilding Corp (USC), where former Saint Petersburg governor Georgy Poltavshenko is board chairman, is looking to develop
SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/PHILIPPINES : Foreign trad... diplomacy goals converge in Philippines' Agila Subic shipyard
When the South Korean group Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced on 16 May that it planned to invest more in
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Discreet succession crisis at risk management firm Sigma7
The US corporate intelligence firm Sigma7 is actively looking for a replacement for its former director, risk management veteran Andrew Hersh. Although Hersh quietly
SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Audere's new COO, eyes on Ginet-Kauders at Red Cross, and from Alaco to Dentons
London: Audere picks special forces captain Russ Byrne, a former captain in the UK Special Forces (UKSF), has recently taken
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : CRDF Global champions DoS cyber support for Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers ended a two-day cybersecurity and cyber intelligence workshop in Kyiv on 17 May. This had been run by
RUSSIA : Russia's small New Space industry enlisted to bolster offensive in Ukraine
On 26 May, following several postponements, the Russian space agency Roscosmos will launch Kondor FKA-1, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Ron Wahid falls back on Kazakh networks as UK tax office starts hunt
The UK tax authority, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), launched a winding-up petition to recover unpaid taxes from RJI Capital (UK) on 12 May. That company is the British subsidiary of t...
RUSSIA : Wagner taps into Saint Petersburg State University talent pool
According to information Intelligence Online has gathered, the paramilitary organisation Wagner is using the Saint Petersburg State University, one of
FRANCE/PHILIPPINES : Naval Group faces challenges on Filipino submarines contract
France's Naval Group has discreetly asked for help from the French foreign affairs ministry to get the Philippines to modify
UAE/FRANCE : Katim looks to Paris, hiring ex-Ercom Didier Pagnoux
Didier Pagnoux's 17 May nomination as CEO of Emirati secure communications firm Katim (ex-Digital14 (D14), part of Emirati Edge Group -
UAE : From Israeli drones to finance, MbZ's son Hamdan gets into Abu Dhabi's key industries
As well as his increasing involvement in the strategic affairs of his father UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ), as Intelligence Online reported yesterday, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Z...
CROATIA/SWITZERLAND : Geneva-based Eyes on Target takes off
The small Investigation firm Eyes on Target (EOT) has been catering to a rise in demand for physical and technical
SYRIA : Bouthaina Shaaban, Assad's discreet regional relations-builder
When the Arab nations welcomed Syria back to the fold at the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on 19
UAE : Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan further makes his mark in strategic affairs
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (HMZ) is continuing to play a role in the schedule set by his
FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : French watchdog seeks great... intel master's degree changes venue, KGB and FSB cross swords
France: CNCTR wants dibs on sovereignty files While most of the interventions at an 11 May symposium hosted by the
UNITED KINGDOM : BAE intelligence chief joins Brennan and Partners
Since quietly leaving his post at the beginning of the year watching over strategic intelligence at BAE Systems, Andrew Cooper
GERMANY/ARGENTINA/FRANCE : Argentina Naval War College experts favour TKMS submarine proposal
Argentina Naval War College officers are central to ongoing discussions on the country's acquisition of three submarines led by defence
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Saudi Space Commission weaves web in Washington with Edelman's help
The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) has enlisted the services of the New York firm Edelman to set in motion its
CHINA/VATICAN : Vatican's charm offensive studied attentively by Chinese ministry of state security
Intelligence Online understands that at least two officials from the Chinese Ministry of State Security (Guoanbu) showed up at the Villa Malta in Rome on 13 May for the presentation of the book "...
EUROPE/VIETNAM : Hanoi's highly political investigation spills over into Geneva
The Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, Nguyen Hoa Binh's recent and little-publicised European trip earlier this
EUROPE/KAZAKHSTAN : Askar Amangeldiyev backs his uncle, fallen oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, behind the scenes
On 23 May, France's top appeal court, the Court of Cassation, is due to rule on a number of appeals
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/YEMEN : Yemen's increasingly confident pro-Emirati STC launches influence campaign in Washington
With the appointment of Abou Zaraa Al Mouharami, the commander of the pro-government Giants Brigades, as vice-president of the Southern Transitional Council
UAE : Zuma Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed's favourite izayaka for fine-tuning deals over fine dining
After a morning meeting on 4 March at the presidential palace in Qasr al-Shati, it was in a private room
SERBIA : Aleksandar Vulin shuns media spotlight behind BIA walls
Aleksandar Vulin's first five months at the helm of the Bezbednosno-Informativna Agencija (BIA) have somewhat disappointed his detractors in the
GERMANY/UNITED STATES : US command in Europe hires help to strengthen logistics in Miesau, Germany
US command for Europe and Africa, USAREUR-AF, based in Miesau, south-western Germany, plays a key role in the US and
ITALY : Italian cyber companies benefit from Israeli export restrictions
With the closure of cyber offensive operator Quadream in April, Israel's cyber intelligence sector is continuing to feel the effects
UNITED STATES : US Foreign Malign Influence Center, now official, weakened by multiple agency overlap
Officialised on 4 May, when Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines addressed a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/POLAND : Michael Morgan moves to Night...Frédéric Cristini, Maritime surveillance aircraft for Warsaw
San Francisco - FBI veteran Michael Morgan joins NightDragon Former FBI agent Michael Morgan joined this month the cyber investment
UAE/RUSSIA : UAE cyber-offensive firm Beacon Red's Russian hackers disillusioned
According to our information, the Russian hackers who arrived en masse in the Emirati parastatal cyber-offensive company Beacon Red, the
UNITED STATES : NUVIEW and Array Labs in race to launch LiDAR satellite constellations
After stepping out of the shadows in early May to announce a record fundraising round of $1.2bn, the fledgling American company NUVIEW is now pursuing its plans to make a name for itself in the n...
UNITED STATES/INDONESIA/QATAR : David Haworth, the ex-US Air Force pilot advising Jakarta on its aircraft acquisitions
The US Congressional report on overseas retraining of former American military personnel, led by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and just
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Riyadh ramps up lobbying in Washington
At the very same time that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was touching down in Jeddah for talks with Saudi
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : Cham Bank picks lawyer Gassan Baloul for legal fight against OFAC
By suing the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and its director Andrea Gacki in the federal court
UNITED STATES : Pro-Trump advocacy firm New Founding forced to trim its sails
Even as it continues to publicly tout new initiatives and maintains an active presence on Twitter this month, the right-wing
BELGIUM/SINGAPORE/UNITED KINGDOM : Stephen quits Stoneturn,...tegrity, EU ups security in Pretoria, Adrian Stones's two hats
Singapore/New York - Stoneturn loses China-focused investigatorInvestigator Paul Stephen, who specialises in private investigations on China, has just left US
FRANCE : France's joint operations command faces severe shake-up
As we understand, the French joint operations command, or CPOIA, will shortly undergo a significant shake-up. The chief of the
QATAR : Western partners pull away from Dahra in wake of espionage scandal
Qatar's call to expel all Indian nationals employed by Dahra Engineering & Security Services (Dahra Global) has provided a peak
FRANCE : French defence ministry rolls out cyber emergency response centre for defence firms
The French defence ministry's intelligence service dedicated to countering foreign interference, or DRSD, is currently rolling out its Computer Emergency Response
UNITED STATES : Sparks fly between corporate intel stars Fusion GPS and Guidepost in US tech investor case
A lawsuit brought against a US political research firm Fusion GPS by a venture capitalist, who accuses it of delivering a forged British police report to a journalist that unwittingly used it in ...
UKRAINE : US veteran Matthew Parker supports specialised battalion of Ukrainian legion
The newly formed 4th battalion of the International Legion for the Territorial Defence of Ukraine is actively recruiting fighters and
UKRAINE : Anti-corruption agency NABU protects its investigative turf
The Ukrainian anti-corruption agency NABU has been very busy since the start of the year. It has just completed several sensitive
JAPAN : Japan launches closed-door debate on nuclear strategy
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's trip to Seoul last week did not allay Japanese concerns about South Korea's determination to
BAHRAIN : Sheikh Nasser launches defence telecoms project to expand influence over Bahraini intelligence
Promoted by his father to lieutenant general of the Bahrain Defence Force on 30 April, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al
TURKMENISTAN : Gas industry businessman Bert Watson pushes for relaunch of trans-Caspian pipeline
US businessman Bert Watson is hoping his company TransCaspian US Resources is going to profit from the OGT 2023 - Oil and Gas of
ISRAEL/ROMANIA : Israeli IMSI-catcher specialist PicSix struggles to establish itself in Bucharest
Israeli IMSI-catcher specialist PicSix is continuing to suffer the consequences of its ill-starred 2018 equipment supply contract in Romania. Since
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES : Burdeshaw, AECOM, Civic Partnership and CMAX maintain US presence in Australian defence sector
Following the formation of an increasing number of industrial alliances in recent weeks as part of the latest phase of the AUKUS submarine construction programme, US group Raytheon is pressing fo...
FRANCE : French military intelligence hires CAE to cover ISR missions before Archange
With Dassault Aviation not due to deliver Archange-Falcon 8X, a signals intelligence (SIGINT) programme currently in the testing phase (IO,
RUSSIA : Rostec and ministry of industry and trade strengthen ties
Several senior officials of Russia's trade and industry ministry, headed by Denis Manturov, are poised to join subsidiaries of the Russian
UNITED STATES : US Northern Command swots up on Russia's Arctic claims
Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) convened with officials of the US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in May to present the results of their sea ice modelling efforts in the Ar...
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Franck Petitgas crowns London career with appointment as Sunak's adviser
French national Franck Petitgas, who was appointed economic adviser to British prime minister Rishi Sunak on 11 April, is at
FRANCE : France's centrist and far-left parties advocate for foreign intel
Earlier this month, the French foreign intelligence service, the DGSE, received backing from unexpected quarters. On 4 May, the far-left
ISRAEL : Netanyahu gives Shin Bet edge over own security staff
The operation centre of Israeli's domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet (IO, 08/03/23), hosted an unusual guest at its Tel Aviv
CANADA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/IRAQ/RUSSIA/TAIWAN/UKRAIN...e, CCP's candidate for Taiwan, Lahur Talabani spoils the party
Canada/China - CSIS at heart of tensions between Ottawa and Beijing The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has come under
UNITED STATES : DARPA looks for vulnerabilities in cyber-physical systems
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a programme to develop tools to safeguard against vulnerabilities in
SWITZERLAND : Geneva plays host to more closed-door Arctic security talks
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) has hosted another round of the Track II diplomacy efforts that we have
UNITED STATES : Former conservative undercover operative Tarah Price re-emerges in the far-right ecosphere
The hugely popular far-right media broadcaster Steven Crowder has been besieged since a leaked video showed him threatening his heavily
SYRIA : Hossam Louka active across all fronts, from Syrian countryside to Riyadh and Moscow
According to our information, Syria's general intelligence chief Hossam Louka accompanied Defence Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas to Moscow to take
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Beijing goes all-out to promote Norinco arms deals in Buenos Aires
The visit to Buenos Aires begun by Norinco vice chairman Xu Hongyu on 4 May followed several months of effort
UKRAINE : Colombians blacklisted from Ukrainian Legion over espionage concerns
The International Legion for the Territorial Defence of Ukraine's recruiting centre in Ternopil is revising its procedures to enhance their efficiency after running into difficulties with Colombi...
FRANCE : Long-awaited Falcon Archange enters test phase
A prototype of Dassault Aviation's Falcon 8X, which was selected as part of the Archange programme to renew the French armed forces' airborne intelligence capabilities, is currently being tested ...
VIETNAM : ASIADEV guides French firms in Vietnam
The French consultancy Asia Developpement Consulting or ASIADEV, headed by Philippe Ortoli, has been advising the French observation nanosatellites start-up
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/SINGAPORE : Inglis joins CSC 2.0, Gray...eams up with PCS in Singapore, France's investment plan Cyber3
Washington: Former National Cyber Director Inglis joins CSC 2.0The NSA's former deputy director John Chris Inglis, who until recently was
IRAQ : Iraq's PM Mohammed Shia Al Sudani cracks down on Korek
As part of his pledge to crack down on corruption, Iraq's prime minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani has recently taken action against the
UNITED STATES : FBI case of radical Black activists accused of working for Moscow divides US security services
The recent indictment of seven alleged members of a spy ring run from Moscow by the FSB has split opinion
GERMANY : Former BfV official Badenberg joins political asylum in Berlin
Perceived as a clever move by Governing Mayor of Berlin Kai Wegner (CDU party), the appointment of Felor Badenberg, the
CHINA/SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES : Seoul's nuclear goals spark intense talks between China and US
As we understand, the advisory board of the South Korean presidential office's national security bureau has been working day and
HUNGARY : Mate Kocsis soon to be Orban's homeland security tsar
The current parliamentary leader of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, Mate Kocsis, will, as we understand, soon be
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : ISR firm Sierra Nevada caught up in Turkish electoral battle
The US-Turkish ISR firm Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has found itself at the centre of a political row in Turkey in
ISRAEL/KENYA : Nitay Artenstein, former journalist now selling zero-day tech in Nairobi
While sellers of non-referenced vulnerabilities, known as zero-day, such as Vulns Security and the Russian Operation Zero, are pouring into
ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN/UNITED STATES : Congressional power struggle between Armenia and Azerbaijan over US aid
As a congressional subcommittee was drafting the 2024 appropriations bill that funds foreign aid, lobbyists for Armenia and Azerbaijan fanned out across Capitol Hill during the second half of Apr...
AUSTRALIA/DENMARK/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGD...s over Minerva, Parker's Kyiv mission, Rud Pedersen in Ukraine
Sydney/New York: The investigator chasing a ghost investor On 17 April, the court of the Southern District of New York
CHINA : Corporate intelligence firms gear up for exodus from China
Intelligence Online understands that uncertainty over what the Chinese authorities, in particular State Security, the Guoanbu, have in store for
FRANCE : French intelligence services' spending surges before budget boost
Annexes to France's budget law posted online in late April show that intelligence services reporting to the defence ministry -
ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : BLER pushes for Singapore venture with Cyberio despite shareholder spat
The Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) specialist BLER Systems, led by Uri Boros and Efim Lerner, continues to gain ground globally.
CROATIA/HUNGARY/UNITED KINGDOM : Bluelight Global Solutions investigators called in on decade-long Croatia vs MOL battle
The recent request submitted to a New York court for the execution of an arbitration award in a case between
HUNGARY : Balazs Orban, Hungarian PM Orban's new pillar of strategic foreign affairs
We understand that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's young foreign affairs adviser, 37-year-old MP Balazs Orban (no relation), will be
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : After pledging £1bn for UK g...energy, Saudi conglomerate Alfanar opens new London subsidiary
Alfanar, the Saudi Arabian energy and electricity holding company owned by brothers Abdusalam Almutlaq and Sabah Almutlaq, registered a new subsidiary in the UK in late April, the latest move in ...
GERMANY/FRANCE/IRAQ : Iraqi PM still heading INIS, France's...ion beefs up controls, Germany's secret clearances scrutinised
Iraq - Mohammed Shia al-Sudani still helming INIS At a meeting he convened on 29 April of Iraqi National Intelligence
MALAYSIA : Huawei gets back into 5G thanks to its local connections and indirect US help
The Malaysian government's decision on 3 May to end the monopoly over the 5G roll-out programme enjoyed by Digital Nasional
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Reaper crash impairs NATO Black Sea intelligence gathering
In the face of an imminent Ukrainian counteroffensive, the crash of the MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea reveals
UNITED STATES : FBI plays star pupil in battle to extend FISA
As the debate over the prolongation of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act (FISA) rages on in Washington (IO, 13/03/23), the FBI is trying to prove its credentials in the...
UNITED STATES : Toyota, under investigation, hires compliance experts from Volkswagen's monitor StoneTurn
Kristin Bone recently joined Toyota's headquarters in Plano, Texas, as the Japanese carmaker's head of anti-bribery and anti-corruption. Fellow new hire Valerie
CHINA/UKRAINE : The inside story on China and Ukraine's recent dialogue
The highly publicised phone call between Chinese president Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on 26 April was,
UNITED STATES/VENEZUELA : Venezuela arrests business partne...l in US on charges of corrupt ties to President Nicolas Maduro
Alvaro Pulido Vargas, one of dozens of government and business officials recently detained for suspected crooked dealings with Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA,
CHINA/THAILAND : Military pushes pro-Chinese approach on eve of election
As Thailand heads into its general election on 14 May, General Sansern Kaewkamnerd has been given another six months at
CHINA/RUSSIA : Gennady Timchenko and Boris Titov battle for leadership of Russian-Chinese business networks
A visit by Russian business leaders to China this month consolidates Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko's comeback in the Chinese business
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/YEMEN : Saudi and UAE officials struggle to patch up differences between MbS and MbZ
Another opportunity to discuss a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) and the UAE's President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) was missed on 15 Ap...
CHINA/VATICAN : Beijing tries to reopen dialogue with Vatican as they compete for Ukraine mediation role
The visit made to Beijing on 17 April by the bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow, looked to have been
UNITED STATES/POLAND : Poland negotiates offset deals for new US Apache and Patriot orders
The US and Poland are currently negotiating offset agreements as part of a Polish order of US military materiel. A
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/LUXEMBOURG/TAIWAN : RB 42's contracts, Luxemburg spy satellite, USA-Taiwan cyber cooperation
Paris - RB 42, European cyber ecosytem pioneerRB 42, the new identity of the former interceptions specialist Nexa Technologies that
BAHRAIN/INDIA : Cyber firm TerraEagle boosted by Prince Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa's MMA connections
A new company has made its appearance in the ecosystem of Bahrain's princes. Indian cybersecurity company TerraEagle is carving out a path for itself thanks to its connections with Khalid bin Ham...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakh opposition seeks to focus US Congress attention back on asset recovery
Intelligence Online has learned that Akezhan Kazhegeldin, the former Kazakh prime minister turned opposition leader, is planning to visit Washington in
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/TURKEY/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-Fed executi... Group talks Turkey, financial investigator sets up in Suffolk
Houston - Former Federal Reserve Board executive Christopher Laursen joins StraifeFinancial risk management specialist Christopher Laursen is now working for
CHINA : Spacety plans launch of more SAR satellites for Chinese intelligence
Spacety, a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of China's Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, is planning to launch a Tianxian-3 synthetic aperture
FRANCE : French foreign ministry sets up new anti-disinformation task force
The French foreign ministry is poised to launch a six-month experimental interministerial informational task force, the TF2I (Task Force Informationnelle
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Rostec capitalises on Donbas steel industry
Russian businessman Evgeny Yurchenko is pursuing his unofficial role as head of Donbas's steel industry (IO, 27/04/23), with one of
UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : In Taipei, hawkish views of US-Taiwan Business Council raise concerns
The imminent scheduled arrival in early May of a delegation of 25 US weapons companies (IO, 26/04/23) is causing concern in Taipei. According to our information, members of Taiwanese President Ts...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Foundation brings US army vets and logistics experts to Kyiv
President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief "bodyguard", Sergiy Rud, is looking for new partnerships. On 21 April, the head of Ukraine's department
EUROPE/KAZAKHSTAN : Fallen Kazakh spymaster's EU supporters hold on through the storm
The first phase of closed-door proceedings in Astana against Kazakhstan's former domestic intelligence chief Karim Massimov, (IO, 13/01/22) over events
RUSSIA/VIETNAM : Russia lobbying hard for its Mir payment system, from Moscow to Hanoi
Intelligence Online has learned that Vietnam Week in Russia, from 17 to 23 April in Moscow, played host to an
BELGIUM : Belgian federal police assemble new OSINT unit
Specialists from the Belgian federal police's cybercrime department have been seconded to a new open source intelligence, or OSINT, office
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Airbus keeps low profile in Saudi mission-critical communications bid
Saudi Telecom Co (STC) is making progress on its plans to build a mission-critical communications network shared across Saudi Arabia's intelligence and security services. In its bid for the mobil...
UNITED STATES/JAPAN : JS Held's Tokyo investigations division ordered to cut costs
The Global Investigations division of US corporate intelligence consultancy JS Held has been restructuring over the past month. The firm's
AFRICA/AUSTRIA/EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/EUROPEAN UNION/NATO : ...sian soft power for Africa summit, Europol reaches out to Kyiv
Austria - Analysts not optimistic about Ukraine's chances Even as it continues to show unwavering support for Kyiv, NATO is
RUSSIA/MYANMAR : The behind-the-scenes players of Moscow and Naypyidaw's defence relations
In the shadow of Vladimir Kazadaev, Moscow's new representative in Myanmar (IO, 25/04/23), the president of the Russia-Myanmar Friendship Association,
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : US Mission to EU comes under State Department inspector's scrutiny
The US Mission to the European Union (USEU) will be parting with its senior consular representative before the end of
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Washington ups the pressure on Five Eyes allies to act on Chinese 'entryism'
Through the arrest of Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping on 17 April, the United States was looking to send a strong signal to its Five Eyes partners regarding all kinds of influence activity organised...
UAE/FRANCE/RUSSIA : Guillaume de Villiers takes luxury prop...utfit Barnes and security and intelligence firm Oriol to Dubai
According to our sources, Guillaume de Villiers, a long-time pillar of the luxury property company Barnes International in Moscow, is in the
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE : NATO 2030 initiative's implications for Paris
NATO is moving forward with the reworking of its crisis response plans, which Intelligence Online reported on last year (IO, 04/07/22). The plans cover
FRANCE : Marc P., the ex-DGSE intelligence director rebuilding networks in the Malacca Strait
As we understand, Marc P., the former intelligence director of France's external intelligence agency, the DGSE, who arrived in Singapore
ISRAEL/PALESTINE : The Austrian Pilgrim Hospice, a haven for security and religious confabs in Jerusalem
Located in the heart of the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, the Austrian Pilgrim Hospice of the Holy Family
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Washington hires Bizzell to help Kyiv reinforce northeastern border
In June, 100 new field accommodation dugouts will be heading to the Ukraine border guard service, the DPSU (IO, 21/02/22),
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : NATO intelligence fears Russian access to Link 16 technology after Black Sea crash of Reaper drone
Despite the calm facade displayed after the crash of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea last month,
UAE/FRANCE/RUSSIA : Moscow investigations firm Gambit Global Intelligence expands Emirati footprint
Niche Moscow corporate intelligence firm Gambit Global Intelligence, which is soon set to close its Paris office, is developing its
UNITED STATES : Mexican cartels inadvertently come to aid of US Article 702 on interceptions
With a campaign underway to prolong Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the FBI and
UNITED STATES/BALKANS : USCYBERCOM and USAID beef up European and Balkan cyber protection
US development agency USAID issued a Request for Information on 12 April to find private partners for its new Cybersecurity
UNITED KINGDOM : Welsh Water looks to get up to speed on hybrid warfare
Faced with potential risks to water supplies, Cardiff-based drinking water distributor Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru in Welsh) is working to
VIETNAM : Zalo, Vietnam's Facebook, at centre of battle to control information
Intelligence Online understands that Nguyen Manh Hung, Vietnam's information and communications minister and ex-CEO of the military conglomerate Viettel, is
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : The delicate coexistence of Russia's industrial emissaries in the Donbass
The young Donbass Development Corp (DDC) is currently planning mine-clearing in the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol (IO,
SPAIN/UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Neptune Silo chooses ManTech, ...'s second generation, Senate blind spot on USCYBERCOM partners
Quantico - ManTech, top provider to NCIS's Neptune Silo unit On 15 April, the US defence provider ManTech renewed its
UAE/ISRAEL : Faced with Israeli resellers, foreign zero-day specialists flock to Abu Dhabi
UAE-based zero-day vulnerability reseller Vulns Security is attracting a lot of attention in the small vulnerability research community. The disproportionately large bounties it offers are focusi...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Lynx lends a ha...luyt recruit covers Japan and Australia, EPEE joins ADIT group
Los Angeles - Lynx assists carpenters' brotherhood As it continues its legal dispute with its former executive secretary-treasurer, Evelyn Shapiro,
UNITED KINGDOM : UK tax authorities pursue ENRC investigator
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the British tax authority, launched a winding-up petition on 17 April to recover taxes
UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : The business council helping American weapons manufacturers boost arms sales to Taipei
The names of the companies on a delegation organised by the US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) in early May in Taipei
FRANCE : French defence ministry considers setting up armed forces OSINT campus
The industrial strategy, economic intelligence and intellectual property arm of the French procurement and technology agency, the Direction Generale de
UNITED STATES : The tumultuous twilight of former CIA chief James Woolsey's business career
Retired CIA Director R. James Woolsey was a central figure during court proceedings in a convoluted case in Utah that ended with four Mormon polygamists and an Armenian citizen sentenced to priso...
CANADA/LIBYA : Arrests not GardaWorld's only worries in Tripoli
The fate of the three GardaWorld employees arrested at Tripoli's Mitiga airport as they were accompanying a delegation from the
CUBA/RUSSIA : Viktor Zolotov plays key role in drive to forge closer security links with Havana
The Russian national guard, Rosgvardia (IO, 19/07/22), and the Cuban interior ministry, where minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas oversees the
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/JORDAN : Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, civil defence champion in the Middle East
The Club de l'Export de la Sécurité Civile, a club aimed at exporting French civil defence, is planning a trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in May to lay the groundwork for an official visit and ...
UNITED STATES : Ryan Evans' Bedrock Learning hires ex-CIA officer David Priess
Keen to support the development of his social learning network project Bedrock Learning, former US Department of Defense executive Ryan
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Yasir Al Rumayyan indulges Saudi sovereign wealth fund's love for US assets
Richard Attias's position as the man Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's inner circle turns to for their US financial dealings
RUSSIA/VATICAN : Ultra-nationalists take swipe at Pope's Russian relays
The ultra-nationalist orthodox movement in Russia wants to put a stop to Pope Francis' rising influence in the corridors of
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Biden's anti-spyware order spells trouble for Paragon
The Israeli cyber intelligence firm Paragon looks set for a bumpy ride as the US brings into effect an executive
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Liu Chang, the officer strengthening ties for Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires
As an indication of how important Liu Chang has become in bilateral strategic issues, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is once more
RUSSIA/MYANMAR : Vladimir Kazadaev opens doors to Russian firms for defence contracts with Naypyidaw
In the latest sign of Russia's efforts to consolidate import-export side channels, Moscow has been ramping up its prospections in Myanmar. A decree signed on 11 April by Russian Prime Minister Mi...
UNITED KINGDOM : Carleton-Smith, ex-head of British special forces, pivots to private diplomacy with Inter-Mediate
In early April, the former head of Britain's special forces and ex-commander of the Special Air Service (SAS) Mark Carleton-Smith joined
AFRICA/ISRAEL : Israeli cyber firm CIPTEAM teams up with Mitrelli
The former crisis negotiation specialist for the Israeli police Yuri Kogan will be one of the few non-local participants at
ARMENIA/FRANCE : French military diplomacy treads carefully in South Caucasus
Paris may soon appoint a defence attaché in residence at the French embassy in Yerevan, Intelligence Online understands. While such
CHINA/RUSSIA : Russian and Chinese coast guards draw closer in North Pacific
Russia's internal intelligence service, the FSB, and the Chinese Coast Guard are negotiating a memorandum of understanding on "the application
ITALY/RUSSIA/SYRIA/TAIWAN : Taiwanese in Milan, Damascus and the Arab League, Russian customs chief
Italy/Taiwan - Taipei uses business to renew political dialogue in Milan According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, the Italian
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Tough preparations underway ahead of French defence minister's visit to Riyadh
The military part of the Franco-Saudi strategic partnership is central to ongoing talks between French chief of defence staff Thierry
UNITED STATES : Air Force Research Laboratory seeks to cyberproof its electronic warfare sensors
On 7 April, the Pentagon launched a call for tenders for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which is at
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Boxers and North Korean construction workers to help rebuild occupied regions of Ukraine
Members of the deputy prime minister for construction and regional development Marat Khusnullin's entourage have been trying to recruit sportsmen, and in particular boxers, to help with the task ...
IRAN/MYANMAR : The Jasmine Hotel, a luxurious Myanmar sanctuary where sanctions-hit Pasdaran and Junta meet
Lately, the calm that pervades the luxurious Jasmine Hotel, with its spa and bar in the heart of Naypyidaw, has
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Donetsk takes a page from Russia's anti-terrorist playbook
Georgi Sepashvili, the minister of state security for the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk (IO, 20/02/23), has been piecing together the
CHINA/JAPAN : Japan's system of military surveillance for Chinese students draws interest in the West
China specialists in the French Parliament concerned with the problem of foreign interference in French universities are studying a method
BAHRAIN/FRANCE : French paratrooper and boxing enthusiast punches weight for Bahraini princes' business
A new balance of power is emerging in Bahrain's security circles between Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (IO,
FRANCE : French OSINT touts GDPR compliance to rival growing US competition
There were a good number of new US open source intelligence (OSINT) providers - at least enough to worry their
UNITED STATES : Legal clash between a UK investigative firm...cutive, an angry client and her lover has movie-calibre twists
In a legal case that reads like a soap opera, London-based investigative firm Conflict International (CI) filed a counterclaim on
BAHRAIN : Sheikh Salman's progression from crown prince to Bahraini security state kingpin
The 6 April meeting in Manama between CIA director William Burns, and the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : London leak at heart of Russian prosecutor's plan to capture FESCO assets
As we understand, a confidential London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) decision dated April 2022 relating to the assets of
UZBEKISTAN : State veteran Zelimkhan Haydarov still holds sway in Tashkent power games
Senior state official Zelimkhan Haydarov and his allies scored another victory last month, when on 23 March his protégé Shavkat
TAJIKISTAN : Social media posts by Tajik president's grandson unsettle ruling circles as leadership succession looms
Video of a bland speech by Tajikistan's long-time President Emomali Rahmon was posted late last month on Instagram by Buzkashi_1111, a handle
MALAYSIA : Leonardo and Airbus wage battle for Malaysian skies
Malaysian parastatal aviation firm Hornbill Skyways has just won contracts for the provision of helicopter services between the mainland and
UKRAINE : ICM Group acts as relay for international SIGINT firms in Ukraine
According to information we have gathered, international SIGINT specialists are relying on Ukrainian ICM Group to get local contracts and
UAE/RUSSIA : Russian vulnerabilities reseller Operation Zero tries its luck in the Gulf
The Russian reseller of unreferenced vulnerabilities, also known as zero-day, Operation Zero (IO, 27/10/22), is taking a close interest in the Middle East, and especially in the United Arab Emira...
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ITALY/RUSSIA : Ntech cofounders wo... in Europe, Convexum in US Congress, Interpol looks to the sea
Moscow: NtechLab founders' distance from firm not so clean cut By granting an interview to Reuters published on 30 March,
UNITED STATES : Kroll continues search for missing Morgan Stanley hard drives
By agreeing in mid-March to register a redacted Kroll report at the New York Southern District court, Judge Paul A.
FRANCE : Bug bounty firm Yogosha's founders fight each other in court over cyber contracts in UAE
Businessmen Abderahman Zohry and Fabrice Epelboin, the co-founder of the French cybersecurity start-up Yogosha, are threatening to take their former
LEBANON : Byblos Groups new branch B-Guard ME opens in Beirut
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, French security firm Byblos Group (IO, 16/09/21) is opening a new branch in Lebanon,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/NORWAY/SERBIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Avisa's...ng, Rio Tinto vs. Serbian activists, Norges Bank investigators
Washington - Avisa investigative branch's managing director goes solo Daniel Greenberg, who had been serving as managing director of Brendan
FRANCE/RUSSIA/VATICAN : Vatican keen to bring Russian and French sherpas to the negotiating table
Pope Francis' advisers are preparing to send formal invitations to the Elysée and the Kremlin to a meeting behind closed
SAUDI ARABIA : MbS gets Riyadh Metro back on track but business partners wary
The replacement on 2 April of the once considered untouchable former head of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)
EUROPE/RUSSIA : In wake of Bataillon era, EU seeks new security firm in Moscow
Private security firms have until 3 May to bid for a contract to protect the European Union's diplomatic mission in the heart of Moscow. For more than a decade this work has been done by one of t...
IRAQ/TURKEY : Baghdad called upon to mediate between the MIT and the PUK
Tensions remain high between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by the Talabani clan, and Ankara, whose intelligence agency,
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv makes a show of friendliness with Chechen opposition movements
Ukraine's presidential office, the Bankova, put together a somewhat unusual spectacle on 12 April when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was
FRANCE/RUSSIA : The thriving French networks of Russian deputy PM Khusnullin
On 13 April, the former MP and minister Maurice Leroy recounted before the French National Assembly's commission of enquiry into foreign
UNITED STATES/POLAND : Polish GEOINT firm SATIM eyes US market
SATIM, a small Polish company specialising in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), drew significant attention when it attended this year's edition of
SAUDI ARABIA/LEBANON/UNITED KINGDOM : On the run from Moham...Salman, King Abdullah's key arms broker finds refuge in Beirut
Last year, Intelligence Online revealed that Riyadh had issued an arrest warrant for businessman Salah Fustok (IO, 28/10/22). Our information now indicates that he has fled to his stronghold in L...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UKRAINE : While lobbying for Kyiv,...omotes oligarch Ablyazov prepares new campaigns against Astana
Kazakh politics looks to be a prominent feature in the newly launched Washington advocacy work of Ukrainian human rights activist Lyudmyla
FRANCE : Macron set to revamp top diplomatic and security team
Negotiations are underway in Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic cell, housed at 2 Rue de l'Elysée, ahead of a probable summer revamp,
FRANCE : French parliament to bolster nuclear security command
Article 29 of France's new military programming law (LPM) - being discussed in the country's National Assembly after its presentation
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/SYRIA/UKRAINE/KYRGYZSTAN : Syrian Kurd...al Assembly, Kyrgyz diplomacy, Ukrainian BEB, US farm security
France/Syria - YPG representatives at the French National AssemblyNuri Mahmud and Ruksan Mihemed, spokespersons respectively for the Syrian Kurdish People's
RUSSIA/VATICAN : Unlikely alliance in Moscow pushes for Pope Francis Nobel Peace Prize nomination
According to our sources, Russian public affairs consultant Leonid Sevastianov, the founder and president of the World Union of Old
ARGENTINA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Top US general travels to Buenos Aires in bid to block China's JF-17 Thunder aircraft deal
General Laura Richardson, head of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) - the US army's command for the South American continent
UAE/FRANCE : Emirates seek direct investment in French tech
The United Arab Emirates sent French embassy attaché Musabbeh Alsaedi and the Dubai Financial Services Authority's head of cybersecurity to
AFRICA/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Libya hires top-flight lawyer Steven Kay to dig up elusive Gaddafi loot
The 3 April clinching of his contract with the Libyan Asset Recovery and Management Office (LARMO) to widen the search
CHINA/INDIA/UNITED STATES : Arunachal Pradesh is top of the agenda in India-US intelligence exchanges
Behind the scenes, Ajit Doval, the strategy kingpin and national security adviser to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has in recent weeks instructed his advisers to attend multiple meetings w...
ARMENIA/UNITED STATES : US company that lobbied for Azerbaijan now working for Armenian opposition group
On 9 April, Jirair Sefilian, an Armenian veteran and opposition activist who has Lebanese and Armenian nationality, began a coast-to-coast
FRANCE/VIETNAM : Convicted Vietnamese defence agent Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan's French connections
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, who was convicted of corruption in her absence, is now wanted by the Vietnamese authorities. She
FRANCE : French DGSE officers become eligible for veteran status
Officers of France's foreign intelligence service, the DGSE, who have
MOLDOVA : Alexandru Musteata, Moldova's novice spymaster trying to push back Russia
Moldova's main intelligence agency, the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), has not lost its bearings in recent months despite the
UZBEKISTAN : Brand 910 inherits Aurum 898's mantle as Uzbek intelligence community's new favourite haunt
At the end of a hard day pouring over surveillance of the border with Afghanistan (IO, 09/05/22) or investigating recently sacked
UNITED KINGDOM : Britain's National Cyber Force emerges from the shadows
On 4 April, Britain's National Cyber Force (NCF) published a document entitled 'Responsible Cyber Power in Practice', which sets out the
FRANCE : Open source intelligence firm Social Links scouts for partners in France
The open source intelligence, or OSINT, company Social Links has recently been on the lookout for a local partner in France.
CHINA : Xi Jinping forms new security clique to stamp out corruption with iron fist
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s new security clique is becoming increasingly powerful within the party, illustrating the weight Xi Jinping
HUNGARY/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/VATICAN : Pope Francis keen to meet Ukraine war negotiators during Budapest visit
During his visit to Budapest from 28 to 30 April, Pope Francis, who hopes to play a role in the
RUSSIA : Clients' revolts expose partners of FSB shipbuilder
Russia's FSB internal intelligence service has filed two complaints against Vostochnaya Verf (Eastern Shipyard in Russian), which are due to
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Filigran raises funds, Mark McLaughlin advises Conceal, Ukraine sets up cyber warfare institute
Paris - Cyber threat intelligence start-up Filigran set to launch fundraising operationFrench company Filigran is expected to announce plans to
FRANCE : French interior ministry seeks new investigation platform
The French ministry of the interior is looking to equip itself with a new data analysis platform and as such has launched a request for information (RFI) to which responses are expected by 24 Apr...
RUSSIA : Mikhail Anichkin, the ubiquitous private security providers' 'ambassador' to the Kremlin
The name of Mikhail Anichkin found its way onto the list of recipients of the Order of Russian Friendship medal,
IRAQ : Oil firms DNO, Forza and HKN nervous about resuming Kurdish operations despite Erbil-Baghdad deal
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (IO, 13/02/23) made a big show of an agreement with the Iraqi
FRANCE : Former LVMH security chief Marcadier a pillar of ADIT's new anti-counterfeiting service
Intelligence Online has learned that the French corporate intelligence firm ADIT is currently preparing the launch of an anti-counterfeiting service. The
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : KCS plays football, Straife turns to the Caucasus, Gourdault-Montagne stays in Beijing
London: KCS gets in the game with new football investigations' unit As the race to buy Manchester United football club
UNITED STATES : Raymond Rahme, major figure in the Dale Stoffel case, sanctioned by the US
A decision on 4 April by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to add a Lebanese magnate to a
UKRAINE : Ministry of Strategic Industries appointment highlights power struggle around Zelensky
New Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshyn took his place at the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters on 10 April and on
GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Airbus looks fo...di Arabia as Boeing returns to kingdom's civil aviation market
The May monthly meeting of the French aerospace industries grouping GIFAS will be largely devoted to Saudi Arabia. The meeting,
MALAYSIA : UK cyber experts devour Malaysian threat intelligence opportunities
UK cyber consultancy Tricis recently joined the growing list of London-based firms gravitating to Malaysian cyber. The company's directors Robert
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Association of European Businesses escapes foreign agent status in Moscow and Brussels
The Russian justice ministry has completed the investigation into the activities of the Association of European Businesses (AEB) it began
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Kroll ready to do battle with Wirecard's short sellers
Corporate intelligence group Kroll does not intend to give an inch in its litigation against Matthew Earl, one of the short sellers behind the fall of German fintech giant Wirecard. In the deposi...
UNITED STATES : Biden administration ratchets up efforts to win renewal of domestic interception law
According to our information, Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, chairman of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus and faithful ally of former
FRANCE : Defence ministry ponders DGRIS reform as armed forces influence debated
As we understand, the French Ministry of Armed Forces is weighing up a reform of its international relations and strategy
CHINA : Xi Jinping allows some space for 'pacifist' Politburo members
The upshot of China's "two sessions", the name given to the coinciding annual meetings of the National People's Congress and
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : British MP Daniel Kawczynski nurtures defence business network to find footing in Washington
British Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynsk served as a parliamentary observer of the Kazakhstan elections late last month, but has also
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Beijing bids for major share in operation of giant Argentine gas field
Chinese ambassador in Argentina Zou Xiaoli is to meet Argentinian vice president Cristina Kirchner over the next few days, according
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Former NATO liaison in Moscow, Gary Tabach, new addition to Kyiv's lobbying team in Washington
Hoping to ensure the flow of US support throughout the war, Kyiv's lobbying team added a fresh member in late-March:
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Boeing struggles to convert commercial success into Saudi defence contracts
The US aeronautics manufacturer Boeing is planning to overhaul its Saudi office once its president, Ahmed Jazzar, steps down from the role he has held since 2005. As we understand, the group is a...
TURKEY : Turkish cyber opens Swiss and Dutch offices to win over European market
It was under Swiss colours that the threat intelligence firm Prodraft made its début on the French market when it
FRANCE : French military appropriations bill serves up mostly good news for French intelligence services
The French intelligence community is set to receive an unprecedented €5bn over the next five years in France's new military
CHINA : Cybersecurity giant Qihoo's French and US investors demand answers
In yet another episode of its lengthy legal battle against two of its former investors, the Chinese cybersecurity company Qihoo
UNITED STATES : Fallen oligarch Dmytro Firtash brings Texan politician Ben Barnes back into Ukrainian affairs
From his current place of residence in Vienna, the exiled Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash (IO, 16/06/21) is negotiating a plea
FRANCE/ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Outcry over Ben Givr's national gua...ian lands senior DRM post, Ukraine's SSSCIP finds new partners
Israel - Shin Bet opposes National Guard planAlthough it was approved by the cabinet on 2 April, the government's plans
UKRAINE : Ukraine's Economic Security Bureau chief Vadym Melnyk under fire
Vadym Melnyk, the head of Russia's Economic Security Bureau (BEB), is trying to defend its work against heavy criticism coming
FRANCE/VIETNAM : Leonardo, Bell and Russian influence fail to deter Airbus Helicopters
In responding to signals that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is interested in acquiring new helicopters, Airbus Group
SYRIA/EUROPEAN UNION : Secret diplomacy helping Syria pressure EU on sanctions
A Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decision to annul the sanctions listing of a Syrian businessman with presumed ties to the Syrian regime, Nizar al-Assad, on 8 March, should encoura...
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN : Sirajuddin Haqqani counts on Pakistani intelligence to hold his own against Taliban old guard
When a delegation of Taliban security officials paid a visit to Islamabad in March, led by Abdullah Ghazanavi, head of
FRANCE : French military spy chief Jacques Langlade de Montgros strives to restore his directorate's reputation
A year after being appointed head of France's Military Intelligence Directorate (DRM), General Jacques Langlade de Montgros is hard at
KAZAKHSTAN : New French, German and US trio advise Kazakh national holding company
With a trade mission to Kazakhstan organised by the French employers' organisation MEDEF coming up on 17-18 April and Olivier Becht, the
CHINA/VIETNAM : Wanted businesswoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan makes it to China
According to our information, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, the former CEO of AIC Group, is currently in China, the country
UAE : How the Wegener-Jayaraman duo extended their cyber empire to the UAE
As revealed in a report published by Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) on 29 March, Spanish cyber intelligence company Variston
FRANCE : Consultants with classified clearance focus on French defence supply chains
A summary report on French government inspectorates, completed by the French finance inspectorate in March, identifies a pool of consulting firms that
AUSTRALIA : The Double Drummer, where to spy a spy in the land down under
When not working on ways to strengthen their capacities in the face of China, staff from Australia's Office of National
GEORGIA : Georgia tackles overhaul of anti-corruption regulations
Parliamentary groups in Georgia have been hotly discussing an anti-corruption law designed to reduce the political and economic influence of
UAE/PAKISTAN : Company of Pakistani finance minister's sons does business with security chiefs
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate on 30 March that he had not set a deadline to conclude stalled
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA : Metallurgical Corporation of China changes its strategy in Afghanistan
According to our sources, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials have been putting state-owned Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) under heavy pressure
UNITED STATES/JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Ian Pears with Nihon C... Curry leaves Cybereason, Cassidy & Associates helps Clearview
Tokyo: Ex-Royal Navy info services director Pears joins NCDIan Pears, the former head of the British Royal Navy's communication and
UNITED STATES : O'Neil Group carves niche in US cyber and space ecosystem
The Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI), a military accelerator programme overseen by the private equity firm O'Neil Group on
SAUDI ARABIA/RUSSIA : Ajlan & Bros looks to supply Russian electronic warfare tools to Saudi Arabian intelligence
Sepha, one of three defence subsidiaries of the Saudi conglomerate Ajlan & Bros, is planning to supply Saudi intelligence with Russian-made surveillance and interception equipment to Saudi Arabia...
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : London consultants quietly gear up for legal battle to recoup Russian giant FESCO's seized assets
The Russian billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov, who has been serving a 19-year prison sentence for fraud since December, has not given
GERMANY/POLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Bearstone Global looks to expand from its Polish base into Western Europe
Polish company Bearstone Global is to bring together operators from the dispute resolution and investigation sector at the Asset Recovery
FRANCE/UKRAINE : French state's battle with Avisa takes toll on French-Ukrainian cyber diplomacy
Ukraine's hopes for building its cyber diplomacy in France have been seriously dampened by the French government's decision to ban
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/HONG KONG/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM :... venture, DragonFly tests the air for Delta, CRA vs. activists
Paris - Amarante looks for risks facing the AFD As part of a $450,000 contract won in late March, security
HUNGARY : Hungarian defence ministry's rising star takes charge of strategy review
Imre Porkolab, director of capacity building and commissioner for innovation at Hungary's defence ministry, is expected to soon take charge
FRANCE : France mulls US-style foreign agents register after similar UK effort
At a 16 February closed-door hearing of a French commission of inquiry into political, economic and financial interference by foreign
RUSSIA : PM Mishustin tightens grip on Russian defence industry
Russia's military industry commission set up a working group on 21 March to resolve disputes between the Russian administration and
UNITED STATES : Businessman Frank Giustra emerges as major ...es and non-profit investigators - like his friend George Soros
In a 28 March column for the Toronto Star, Canadian businessman Frank Giustra criticised the Treasury Department's rescue of depositors at Silicon Valley Bank, which went bust earlier the same mo...
CHINA/TAIWAN : Taiwanese intelligence urges government to act with caution
According to a source very close to the president's inner circle, in the week before Tsai Ing-wen embarked on her
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : Gulf nations show little interest in France's special forces seminar
There were far fewer Gulf nation delegations at the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS), held from 28 to
HUNGARY/CZECH REPUBLIC/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Partners Aero Vodochody and Omnipol torn over Ukraine strategy
Czech defence group Aero Vodochody is struggling to tow the Hungarian government's line to not deliver arms to Ukraine.The company
JORDAN : Jordanian intelligence searches for encrypted communications provider
Amman is on the hunt for a secure communications system able to encrypt communication between the country's institutions, Intelligence Online
CHINA/SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi mega deals weave their way into Chinese Riyadh-Tehran mediation
On the sidelines of China's fruitful mediation between Riyadh and Tehran, which officially announced the re-establishment of their diplomatic ties on 10 March, Chinese President Xi Jinping has be...
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : UK Tory consultants leverage networks to raise funds for Ukraine
On 28 March, a fundraising dinner was held in London for Operation Safe Drop, a British aid initiative for Ukraine
UNITED STATES/VIETNAM : Bell flies full speed ahead on helicopter sales in Vietnam
After several failed attempts, US manufacturer Bell, which is owned by Textron, may finally sell its helicopters to Vietnam. It
UNITED STATES : Diversity emerges as key issue in choice of FBI's new HQ
In the coming weeks, the US government's independent General Services Administration (GSA) is due to decide where to put the new
RUSSIA : Russian soft power services and agencies promote Russian unity in North Caucasus and Crimea
Two new branches of the Federal Agency for Nationalities (FADN) are due to open in the North Caucasus and Crimea
CHINA/FRANCE/PALESTINE/UKRAINE : Majed Faraj named minister... uses Hebrew, Chinese democracy promoted, Chechen base in Kyiv
Palestine - Mahmoud Abbas confirms Majed Faraj's role as spymaster On 28 March, the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud
FRANCE : Nexa renamed RB 42 with new cybersecurity focus
In early March, Nexa Technologies, previously an interceptions specialist, officially changed its name to RB 42. The company itself has
FRANCE/BELARUS : Minutiae of DGSE's last ditch operation in Minsk
Shortly before 7am on 24 March, a Falcon 900EX jet took off from Bourget Airport on the outskirts of Paris, headed for Belarus. It was carrying a small team from the French external intelligence ...
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Mintz raid spooks Western corporate intelligence's Beijing offices
The police raid at the Mintz Group's office in Beijing and the arrest and detention of five local staff by the Chinese authorities on 20 March has sparked fear among firms that work on Chinese ca...
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA : Norinco enlists Riyadh consultants from Saudi defence ministry
Saudi defence ministry heavyweight Abdulrahman bin Muhawes has recently been hired as a consultant by the Chinese state-owned defence company
FRANCE : The Cercle de l'Union Interalliée, a historic Par...entlemen's club opening up to the corporate intelligence crowd
It has only been a few years since the prestigious and very selective private club in Paris, the Cercle de
CHINA/INDONESIA : Huawei extends web in Jakarta, ground zero for China-US fight for influence
Showing the importance given by the Indonesian government to strategic cyber cooperation with China, Moeldoko, President Joko Widodo's chief of
UAE : Former intelligence officer Anwar Gargash has become MbZ's indispensable diplomatic adviser
As part of the Emirati delegation that welcomed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to Abu Dhabi on 18 March, Anwar Gargash
YEMEN : Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency counts on Moscow to mediate in Yemen conflict
Intelligence Online can reveal that senior officials of Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) have recently had a series of meeting
RUSSIA : Thanks to political reshuffles, Kiriyenko clan consolidates position in Russian Arctic
The rise of Sergey Kiriyenko, the first deputy director of Russia's presidential administration and architect of Russia's Ukrainian annexations, is also
INDIA/ISRAEL : Israeli OSINT firm Cyberglobes prospects in India
Israeli open source intelligence, or OSINT, firm Cyberglobes, attended the Digipol global policing and defence fair in Hyderabad, India last month. The company,
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Nicolas Sarkozy visits the al-Ajlans,...udi family under US surveillance for links to China and Russia
Former French president turned consultant Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday paid a visit to Ajlan bin Abdulaziz al-Ajlan, head of the family-run conglomerate Ajlan & Bros, on the sidelines of his visit t...
UNITED STATES/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Corporate intelligence world mourns Credit Suisse
The demise of Credit Suisse, taken over by its rival UBS, is set to have a significant effect on the
UNITED STATES : Biden administration's call to renew major intelligence law triggers congressional and lobbying battle
During a hearing of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) earlier this month, Republican Congressman Darin LaHood disclosed
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : Washington rallies local companies around new jihadist prison project in northeastern Syria
The local business community in northeastern Syria has been abuzz since the US Department of Defense issued a pre-solicitation for
CANADA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL : Tehtris shielded Macron, US cyber reserve plans, Ofer Kotler at Awz Ventures
Paris - Tehtris put cyber shield around Emmanuel Macron's campaign In a report published on 10 March by the French
UNITED STATES : Storm clouds gather over Biden's national cyber office
The White House's National Cyber Director (ONCD) has had to find a new chief of staff. The previous titleholder, John Costello, left the service in late February to join WestExec Advisors, a US s...
UNITED STATES/VIETNAM : Not over for Lockheed Martin on spy satellite tender
During their time in Vietnam in March as distinguished guests of the largest US trade delegation to have ever visited
CHINA : Shanghai clique gathers intelligentsia around Xi
The Shanghai clique, also known as the "clique of intellectuals", is becoming one of the main components of President Xi
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Prisme Intelligence in Paris, Field... London, Sibylline's hiring changing line-up, BAE minus Powell
Paris - Former officer Mai-Linh Camus heads into consultancy According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, former military intelligence officer
CENTRAL ASIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Ventham Consulting delves into asset recovery probes into Central Asian heirs
According to Intelligence Online's sources, British private investigator Stephen Fitzjohn contributed to a report on Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's ex-president, published on 14 M...
UNITED KINGDOM : Belarus's Synesis ruling casts shadow on anti-sanctions investigations market
A 14 March ruling by the High Court of Justice in London could pull the plug on the burgeoning niche
TURKEY/OMAN : Burak Yahsi, the agent at the heart of an FMS contract in Muscat
In addition to his lawsuit against the Texan oil company Petroleum Analyzer Company (PAC) over a vast project in Turkmenistan
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Saudi Ajlan & Bros eyes Chinese Norinco's observation satellites
After dismissing US consultants from Scopa Industries, a subsidiary of Ajlan & Bros established to handle military offset contracts in Saudi Arabia (IO, 02/11/22), last
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Private investigators allegedly involved in trans woman's forced return to Saudi Arabia
A small, little known Washington-area private investigative firm that allegedly helped coerce a young Saudi trans woman living in the US to return to her homeland, where she reportedly committed ...
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/UKRAINE : NATO seeks to consolidate position in Ukraine
NATO may soon appoint a new permanent representative in Ukraine, a position that has been vacant for a year and
Belarus/Europe/Ukraine/United States : US lobbying giant AP...e-based initiative pushing for Kyiv and Minsk's EU integration
The fledgling Center for a European Future (CEF), a Brussels-based non-profit organisation striving to promote structural reforms in Ukraine and
UNITED STATES : Former CIA officer Robert Baer drops plans to lobby for Ukrainian military intelligence
After registering as a pro-bono lobbyist to represent Ukraine's military intelligence agency earlier this month, former CIA officer Robert Baer
HUNGARY : Viktor Orban's close adviser Balazs Orban handed keys to Hungarian foreign policy
The management of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT or KKI in Hungarian) has been negotiating with its
TURKMENISTAN/TURKEY : Burak Yahsi, winning contracts for Turkish energy and defence in the Middle East and Central Asia
A recent lawsuit filed before the court of the Southern District of Texas sheds light on the USI International web
UAE/ISRAEL : Ahmed Al Shafar, the strongman of Dubai's defence dealings with Israel
Ahmed Al Shafar made no show of his arrival at the stand of aircraft manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at
ISRAEL : Latin America continues to attract Israeli cyber firms
Colombia's military intelligence service is looking to acquire an open source intelligence, or OSINT, platform, a project revealed last month
SAUDI ARABIA/SOUTH KOREA/UAE/FRANCE/INDIA/UKRAINE : UAE, Sa...bia, India and South Korea secretly supply missiles to Ukraine
Ukraine's heavy use of shells and missiles means that the country's allies are having to find new military supplies. Although French officials are very hush-hush on the matter, as required by the...
FRANCE/SINGAPORE : French external intelligence agency wants its South East Asia team in shipshape
Only a few weeks into his new position in Singapore, revealed earlier this year (IO, 06/02/23), it is becoming clear
CANADA/UNITED STATES : Ottawa's cyber strategy faces challenge of improving integration with Washington
The FBI locked down the streets of Ottawa for Joe Biden's visit on 23 and 24 March, but intelligence cooperation of a
EGYPT/IRAN/POLAND/RUSSIA : Abbas Kamel opens path to Iran, Kadyrov splits Rosgvardia, ABW taken aback
Egypt/Iran - Abbas Kamel lays down terms for normalisation with Iran Abbas Kamel, the head of the Mukhabarat al-Amma, Egypt's
FRANCE : Official eyebrows raised in France over Le Pen campaign's IT spend
In a report published in mid-March, the independent body that monitors election campaign funding and political party financing in France
UNITED STATES : US's Intel 471, supplier to the Australian Signals Directorate, forced to tighten belt
US threat intelligence firm Intel 471, whose clients include the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), has recently shed 10% of it
CHINA/TAIWAN : Wang Huning oversees Kuomintang's rapprochement with Beijing
While Taiwanese authorities have publicly said he will not come directly into Beijing over the course of the visit to China he is embarking on today, the former Kuomintang (KMT) president of Taiw...
France/UAE/Ukraine : UAE's surplus Mirage fighter jets look set to go to Ukraine
Part of Abu Dhabi's Mirage 2000-9 fleet could be used to make a first delivery of French fighter aircraft to
Saudi Arabia : The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, a gilded prison turned hotspot for business elites thriving under MbS
The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, which became a symbol of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) anti-corruption purges after the hotel
EUROPE : B&S Europe, the provider helping the EU gain influence in Eastern Europe
With its acquisition on 1 March of the small Belgium outfit East West Consulting, Brussels-based Business & Strategies in Europe
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/POLAND : Polish diplomatic think-tank carves niche in Washington
The Polish Institute of International Affairs, or PISM (Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych), is currently putting its energy into preparations for
RUSSIA : Russian financial intelligence service looks to recruit new generation of analysts
In an interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin on 9 March, Yuri Chikhanchin assessed the performance and set out the
SWITZERLAND : Intelligence chief Dussey grapples with shaken Swiss neutrality
Career diplomat Christian Dussey (IO, 15/11/21), head of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) since November 2021, has been openly worried
UAE : CPX struggles to spearhead UAE's cyberoffensive operations
According to our sources, the UAE's cyberoffensive firm CPX, founded in March last year with the goal of becoming the country's
EUROPE/HUNGARY : Informal Fidesz lobby starts to take shape in Brussels
Géza Kovács-Dobák and Anna Taraczkozi, both of whom work for the European Commission, will in the next few weeks organise
CAMBODIA/UKRAINE : Ukrainian mine clearance officers train in Phnom Penh under Russia's watchful eye
A State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESUS) mine clearance team is due to travel to Poland soon. According to our
SAUDI ARABIA : Zamil clan increasingly a Saudi defence ally, from telecoms to high-tech munitions
As we understand, Saudi Telecom Co (STC) has selected the Zamil clan's company Wahaj to install mobile antennas for the
UAE/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Dream poaches from Tenable, SAT ...aymera, Fischler at Interionet, Boeing upheld for DIA contract
Tel Aviv: Dream Security poaches Tenable's product management director Yariv Lenchner left his role as head of product management at
FRANCE : International OSINT groups vie for position with state agencies in Paris
Italian cyber intelligence group Cy4gate recently presented its open source intelligence (OSINT) products as part of the security experimentation currently being carried out to prepare for the Ol...
UNITED STATES : Staff sue Louis Vuitton's New York security provider over unpaid overtime
The handful of security guards that filed suit against their employer, Global Threat Solutions, before the Southern District court of
FRANCE/SYRIA : Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback
A Syrian delegation was on the list of guests at the 4th Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce (CCFA) summit at the
ISRAEL/LUXEMBOURG : From New York to Geneva, Israeli-Luxembourg due diligence firm Sqope prospers under Krancenblum
The Luxembourg investigations firm Sqope, founded a decade ago, has hired a number of new staff recently. Former Israeli government official
UNITED STATES : Top private investigators approved to track and list conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's assets
The ongoing bankruptcy proceedings of Alex Jones have been an unrelenting disaster for the conspiracy theorist, who has been ordered to
RUSSIA : FSB comes back in from the cold
The FSB, Russia's internal intelligence service, jumped at the occasion to sing its own praises on 6 March by announcing
BRAZIL/CHINA : Lula's special adviser handed task of coordinating diplomatically delicate Beijing trip
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's upcoming trip to China planned on 28 March is being coordinated by his
UAE : UAE's Edge Group and G42 get into natural language processing
Beacon Red, a subsidiary of the UAE's asymmetrical warfare technology conglomerate Edge Group, is looking for partners to develop natural
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Macron's ex-b... with Ankara, Bison poaches from 5 Stones, Nardello promotions
Paris/Kyiv - Former Macron security advisor prospects in KyivFrench President Emmanuel Macron's former senior security officer Alexandre Benalla travelled to
UAE/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Hack for hire: ENRC aims to open up Dechert and Nick del Rosso's Pandora's box
The data contained in the IT device of US-based private investigator Nick del Rosso is causing nervousness among many clients of law firm Dechert, which used to make use of his services. With bac...
UNITED STATES : FTI and Orrick roll out sanctions and export control platforms in Europe and Asia
The European Sanctions and Export Control Society (ESECS) is poised to register the statutes of new outposts in Paris, Geneva, Rome,
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Bahaa Hariri swaps CT Group for BGR to promote his political ambitions in Lebanon
Bahaa Hariri, the son of the assassinated Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, has hired the top-tier Washington firm BGR Group
RUSSIA : Top security players tread on foreign minister's toes amid power struggle
Since the beginning of the year, Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian National Security Council and former director of the
CHINA : Xi Jinping's quiet manoeuvres sound death knell for pro-business China Communist Youth League
After the new Chinese premier Li Qiang took office on 11 March, all of those loyal to his predecessor Li
BAHRAIN : Abraham Accords upshot National Cyber Security Centre struggles to assert position
As we understand, Salman bin Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the CEO of the Bahraini Interior Ministry's National Cyber Security
UNITED KINGDOM : British cybertool developer Wylde launches Disruptive Industries
Lee Wylde, a veteran of the British Army's Intelligence Corps, registered his new defence open source intelligence, or OSINT, firm Disruptive
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/VIETNAM : Leonardo pounces on potential Vietnamese helicopter deal after Moscow loses exclusivity
Italian firm Leonardo which owns AgustaWestland is preparing to get in the running to provide Vietnam with a new fleet of civil and military helicopters. The group has sent envoys to suss out the...
CHINA/FRANCE/ITALY/JORDAN/POLAND : NATO's top job shortlist... Security Council, Poland's ICS, French comcyber faces Beijing
Brussels/Washington: Italy's chances fade for NATO top post Italy's chances of securing NATO's top job seem to be fading. Intelligence
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakh government and opposition reorganise their London support to asset recovery efforts
The administration of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and opposition activist groups are progressively both working to recover assets from Kazakhstan's previous regime.
FRANCE/RUSSIA : French official worked in Moscow embassy without clearance for two years
The DRSD, on the military side, and the internal intelligence agency DGSI, on the civilian side, claim to be exploring
JAPAN : Tokyo close to completing secret negotiations to join AUKUS alliance
Negotiations on Japan's admission to AUKUS, the military and intelligence-sharing alliance between the United States, Britain and Australia, are in
UNITED KINGDOM : Specialist consultant Jeff Townsend plays key role in Westminster critical minerals debate
The UK parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which is becoming increasingly preoccupied by the security issues raised by the question of
UNITED STATES : Counter-influence expert looking for funding to develop cyber activities
US-based OSINT firm EdgeTheory called upon lobbyist Alpine Group Partners to help it obtain subsidies to extend its expertise to
UNITED STATES : Chinese threat rekindles focus on climate-related intelligence
The US's need to ramp up its intelligence on climate in the face of its competitors was highlighted in the Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, released to the public on 8 M...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : US private security veteran Matthew Parker redeploys to Ukraine
Retired US Army NCO Matthew Parker is returning to Ukraine with a hand-picked team of volunteers: two US Army veterans,
COLOMBIA/UNITED STATES : Doj protects ex-CIA officer sought for questioning in Colombia over murders
The US Justice Department recently informed the office of Colombia's attorney general that a former CIA officer wanted for questioning
COLOMBIA : Nogal Club, an enduring haven for Colombia's military, political and business elites
The private Nogal Club in Bogota has long been a central gathering spot for Colombia's political and economic elite, including
SAUDI ARABIA : Prince Abdullah bin Naif Al Saud at core of Riyadh's new hospitality contracts
Saudi Arabia's MJS Holding, headed by Mohammed Jawa, is currently hiring staff for the opening in Riyadh of a new
CROATIA : Daniel Markic, Croatian champion of European intelligence cooperation
Over nearly seven years at the helm of the Croatian security and intelligence service, SOA, Daniel Markic has been working
CHINA : New PM Li Qiang further boosts Zhejiang faction in CCP
The official handing over of the prime ministerial duties from Li Keqiang to Li Qiang last week was a major
UNITED STATES : 33rd Cyber Operations Squadron pushes through with STS as cyber defence and network supplier
Angered by the delay in appointing a supplier to support its cyber defence operations and networks, the US Air Force pushed
UNITED STATES : US Department of Commerce struggles with security glitches amid global economic battle
The Department of Commerce's new Insider Risk Management Programme Office (IRMPO) is settling in to its new offices in room
KYRGYZSTAN : Spymaster Tashiev wins friends and influence in politics and security
The meeting in Dubai between Kyrgyzstan president Sadyr Japarov and five of his predecessors on 18 February demonstrates the influence
LEBANON : Lebanon's Selcom Marine interfaces with US and French shipyards
Moored at NAVDEX - the maritime section of Abu Dhabi's IDEX defence trade fair in Abu Dhabi on 20-24 February (IO, 27/02/23) -
GERMANY/BELGIUM/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : ODNI pores over cybe...acha Bailly heads Dataminr's defence sales and Belgian spyware
Washington - Is the US clamping down on the cyber intelligence industry?This year's annual threat assessment report published on 8
ISRAEL : Cyber export specialists enjoy booming legal advice market
The Israeli defence ministry's blacklisting of NFV Systems on 8 March for the potentially illegal exporting of cyber-intelligence tools has
UAE/TURKEY : Abu Dhabi builds rapprochement with Turkey through electronic warfare industry
Turkish companies are on the UAE's radar as the country actively seeks to connect with Ankara through cyber and electronic warfare. According to our sources, Emirati delegations at the IDEX defen...
KAZAKHSTAN : Bolashak Consulting Group under scrutiny in Stati affair
The Kazakh government filed a fresh lawsuit in its 12-year legal wrangle with Moldovan businessmen Anatol Stati and Gabriel Stati
EUROPEAN UNION/BELARUS : Synesis fights sanctions and informational attacks from Brussels to Warsaw
While waiting on an imminent Court of Justice of the European Union ruling after challenging EU sanctions imposed nearly two
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : GPW hires, former Marsh & Mc...y's rise, Resheniya closes, Hakluyt poaches from Inter-Mediate
London: Will Jenkins swaps Nardello for GPW After leaving the London offices of Nardello & Co in December, investigator William
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Lebanon's former security chief Abbas Ibrahim falls from grace after support dwindles
On 1 March, the head of Lebanon's General Directorate of Security (DGSG), Abbas Ibrahim, unexpectedly stepped down after failing to
CANADA/UAE : Canadian and Dubai rivals battle over Inkas brand name and contracts
A PR battle between Canada's Inkas Group of Companies and the Dubai-based Inkas Vehicles played out during the IDEX defence fair in Abu
ISRAEL : Cognyte and Omaha police and firefighters' pension fund fall foul of Meta's crusade
Cyber intelligence company Cognyte, a cyber offensive spin-off of Israel's Verint defence group, has been fighting one of its investors
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Kyiv's PR watchdogs turn spotlight on Sovcomflot's partners in US and Dubai
Talks involving US officials in Dubai, which were aimed at putting a stop to the importation and exportation of Russian goods via the Emirates, soon put the spotlight on Russian oil tanker operat...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Former CIA officer and bestselling author Robert Baer lobbies for arms shipments to Ukraine
Former CIA officer turned author Robert Baer registered as a lobbyist for the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Ministry
SAUDI ARABIA : Ex-spymaster Turki Al Faisal lends weight to Saudi Arabia's UNESCO lobbying efforts
Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud made a discreet visit to UNESCO in Paris on 13 March for the exhibition
UNITED KINGDOM : Former French DGSI and BND chiefs join CT Group's new corporate intelligence outfit
The former head of France's domestic intelligence service, DGSI, Patrick Calvar, who is now a consultant, is joining a new
UNITED STATES/MIDDLE EAST : Washington counts on fledgling Negev Forum to drive Middle East security
On a brief visit to Tel Aviv on 9 March, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin reminded Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the
FRANCE/POLAND : Poland's Air Force Institute of Technology turns into defence partnerships hub
Poland, the main base of EU members' logistic and military response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is planning to
UAE/FRANCE : Marwan Lahoud and Tikehau Capital to drive French defence contracts in Abu Dhabi
French private investment fund Tikehau Capital is preparing to launch in Abu Dhabi, Intelligence Online understands. Its new office will
UNITED STATES : Disbanded threat intelligence firm AdvIntel staff regroup at Red Sense
Cyber experts from dissolved threat intelligence firm AdvIntel have been poached by new operator Red Sense a few months after
CHINA : China International Capital Corp targeted by Xi Jinping's new anti-corruption drive
Tensions are running high at investment bank China International Capital Corp's (CICC) top management in Beijing. Executives at the bank have convened a series of informal meetings over the past ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Raedas extends its global client base through hire of star CIS lawyer
Ekaterina Rozenbaum will take up her new post this week at London disputes resolution firm Raedas, which specialises in multi-jurisdictional
CHINA/UNITED STATES/ITALY : Information warfare: Washington provides funds to counter Chinese messaging in Italy
A 9 March debate in the Italian capital entitled "The History of China: party rhetoric and state disinformation", organised by
BELGIUM : Belgium poised to ratify new telecoms data collection legislation
A draft memorandum viewed by Intelligence Online that will bring into application a new Belgian law on access to and
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukrainian defence ministry caught up in French red tape
Since France established a defence ministry fund to equip Ukraine last November, Kyiv has only managed to access between 5 and
UAE : Influx of Russian hackers benefits Abu Dhabi's cyber offensive capabilities
Intelligence Online has learned that Western employees of the Emirati cyber firm Beacon Red are increasingly concerned about the arrival
UNITED STATES : Intelligence community wants greater powers to spy on foreigners outside US
When US intelligence community leaders presented their Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate on 8 March, they raised the issue of renewing their powers to conduct targeted surveillance of fo...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA/TURKEY/UNITED KINGDOM : MIT spe... in good form, Tracfin reform toughens, KGB takes swipe at MI6
Turkey - Iraq and Syria operations MIT's biggest expense Under Hakan Fidan's leadership, the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation, or MIT
RUSSIA : Ex-FSB officer Anton Nemkin acts as middleman between Duma and cybersecurity sector
Faced with a growing number of requests from the Kremlin's security services (IO, 16/02/23) and a shortage of personnel due
UNITED STATES : US lobbyist for European far right Logan Circle Group sues former partner
A feud between senior executives at Logan Circle Group (LCG), a prominent US conservative Republican consulting group, has erupted in
United States : CXIII REX, the cigar bar where CIA contractors mingle over pasta and a puff
From its typical red brick facade, no particular sign distinguishes this club from the myriad of Italian restaurants lining the
CHINA : Li Wei, Xi's intelligence gathering champion
At the annual session of the National People's Congress, NPC, China's top legislature, that began on 5 March, President Xi
FRANCE/ISRAEL/VIETNAM : Vietnam baulks at Airbus's observation satellite proposal
According to our sources, the Vietnamese government let the French embassy know last month that it did not wish to
CYPRUS/UNITED STATES : Erik Prince builds up small cyber empire
The fledgling company Unplugged Systems specialising in secure communication systems may still be at the fundraising stage but it has
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Leak spares key figures of Kremlin's Belarus policy
The document detailing Russia's plans for Belarus that was leaked as part of an investigation led by the Dossier Centre
UAE/RUSSIA : Bank backed by discreet oligarch Mikhail Rabinovich set to open in Gulf
The privately owned Locko-Bank, in which businessman Mikhail Rabinovich plays an influential role, has for weeks been preparing to open
CANADA/UAE/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ITALY : Startup Wyvern hire...li takes DigitalPlatforms to UAE, NATO's OSINT platform tender
Edmonton: Canada's Wyvern appoints two US vice-presidentsCanadian hyperspectral geospatial imagery firm Wyvern has recently appointed two new directors, Thomas Van
ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : Paragon carves new place for Israeli cyber in Singapore
Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Paragon, headed by Idan Nurick, has won a contract worth tens of millions of dollars to supply its solutions to Singapore, Intelligence Online's sources say. The f...
CHINA/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Arrested for arms trafficking,...xpert Gal Luft has close ties to the US security establishment
Gal Luft, an Israeli energy and security expert arrested in Cyprus on charges of arms trafficking to China and Libya,
CHINA : Western researchers, business leaders set for closed-door confabs with CCP at CASS and CDF
Although the list of participants at the next private meeting of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is shrouded
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Day renam...urn's UK cuts, Cooper aids FGS and Sanctuary, JS Held closures
Geneva: Nick Day drops Diligence brand nameIt is the end of an era for the Geneva corporate intelligence world, which
ISRAEL : Opposition to Netanyahu's coalition spreads to Mossad and Shin Bet
Mossad chief David Barnea has granted the intelligence agency's agents permission to take part in protests against Israel's far-right coalition government that's
RUSSIA : Russian intelligence mobilised to create framework for drone development
Russian intelligence chiefs are playing an increasingly central part in a new government commission intended to speed up national production
SAUDI ARABIA : Khaled Biyari, chief of Saudi Arabia's mission-critical communications network
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) has tasked Khaled Biyari, the number two of the defence
SAUDI ARABIA : NorthStar lights way for China to enter Saudi Arabian GEOINT
Saudi Arabian startup NorthStar, which joined the Saudi Space Commission's Space Accelerator Programme (SAP) in February, is discreetly bringing Chinese
UNITED KINGDOM : Orange vs MTN hacking case keeps cyber investigators busy
On 28 February, South African telecoms operator MTN won its case against French company Orange over its operations in Liberia in
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Wirecard, Adani, NMC: private investigators gain from short-selling explosion
Kroll appointed the law firm Stephenson Harwood to handle its defence against short seller Matthew Earl last week. Earl filed a lawsuit in London against Kroll and the law firm Jones Day, Kroll's...
RUSSIA : Kremlin infighting threatens deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak
The leak of a document outlining Russia's plans for Belarus last month has further shaken the position of its purported
FRANCE : France's online influence warfare doctrine makes slow progress in face of administrative complexities
A parliamentary report published late last month which takes a look at France's previous military planning law has highlighted the
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : G3 expands internationally thanks to new secret shareholder
Planned to open in the coming days, the new Japanese office of Good Governance Group (G3), led by Nick Alcock
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Scopa turns away from US and towards Moscow and Beijing, OFAC warned
The US branch of Scopa Industries, a subsidiary of Ajlan & Bros, which was set up to build foreign military
CYPRUS/UNITED KINGDOM : Cypriot firm TRG sets sights on London
Cyprus-based big data analysis firm TRG Research and Development is ever-so-subtly trying to break into the European market. It has
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA : Huawei goes all out to win mission-critical communications contract for Saudi defence
Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the lead project manager and future operator of a mission-critical communications network for the country's defence institutions, has delayed the launch of the project tha...
UNITED STATES : US counterintelligence in turmoil over internal flaws
Last month, the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, a popular forum for espionage veterans, devoted part of its quarterly
SAUDI ARABIA : OceanX helps Riyadh boost best up-and-comers in GEOINT
The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) has just selected the first group of start-ups in its Space Accelerator Programme (SAP). Its
CHINA : Huiyao Wang, architect of Beijing's new diplomatic approach with West
When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on his European tour on 18 February, which took him from Paris to
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : ENRC/Azima vs del Rosso/Dechert/Gerrard: mystery computer may hold sought-after secrets
A new piece of evidence has got the Dechert/Neil Gerrard camp quaking. Lawyers representing former aircraft broker Farhad Azima are
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/FINLAND/FRANCE/ISRAEL/JORD...ors IT operators, OFAC expands scope, French alcohol in Riyadh
Israel/Jordan: Shin Bet boss caught out in Aqaba When in Aqaba on 25 February to discuss the current cycle of
RUSSIA : Shoygu, Kadyrov and FSB fight over plan to appoint new deputy emergency situations minister
Russia's FSB internal security service has joined the struggle inside the Moscovite elite to prevent Colonel Daniil Martynov, a confidant
CHINA/FRANCE : Are French pilots about to train on Chinese jets?
According to our sources, five candidates will take part in the call for tenders for the next basic training programme
UAE/FRANCE/RUSSIA : Defence industry counter-espionage rife at Abu Dhabi IDEX
The International Defence Exhibition, or IDEX, hosted by Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February, offered the Russian defence sector an opportunity to try to update its intelligence on industry players ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Honourable Artillery Company's Armoury House, a historic retreat for British military intelligence
It's hard for the curious visitor to enter the expansive central London HQ of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) undetected:
EUROPE : Commercial cyber bosses Ralf Wegener and Ramanan Jayaraman operate Singapore-based Nanostrea
While the Cyprus-based cyberoffensive firm Prixie published an updated list of directors on 22 February, a number of other cyber companies
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Despite heavy casualties, private military and security contractors still operating in Ukraine
An Estonian-based private military contractor (PMC) called Iron Navy that offers security services for government entities and businesses operating in
CHINA : CCP's Central Party School squad work on Xi's image
As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP; IO, 10/01/23) draws more and more on the world of academia and scientific research
UZBEKISTAN : Batyr Tursunov, leading the interior security reform as deputy
The SGB, Uzbekistan's internal intelligence service, has had its work cut out for it since the energy crisis swept through
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Corporate intelligence firm COSA increases its footprint in the defence sector
Alongside its work supporting Kyiv's sanction policies (IO, 22/02/23), Ukrainian corporate intelligence firm COSA is drawing attention from the defence
TURKEY : Turkish spymaster Hakan Fidan orchestrates earthquake relief and Erdogan's political survival
Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's intelligence service, the MIT (IO, 20/05/22) has been closely involved in coordinating disaster relief
CHINA : Chinese Politburo divided over economic policy
After an unusually quiet month, on 21 February, the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) finally published its conclusions
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA : Well established consultants help Chinese industrialists to obtain Afghan lithium mining rights
From his well hidden office in Kabul's ChinaTown shopping centre, Yu Minghui, executive director of the ChinaTown Kabul consulting company,
UAE/LEBANON : Deloitte and Lebanese ex-partner Al Fadl escape LCB shareholders' wrath for now
Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) rejected an appeal from a group of shareholders in Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB) on 9
France : Despite uncertainties, French Olympic Games security tech unit thinking long-term
Prefect Olivier de Mazières, who heads the ministerial department for partnerships, strategy and security innovation, the DPSIS (Délégation Ministérielle aux Partenariats, aux Stratégies et ...
GERMANY/EUROPE/FRANCE : Stevan Perrot joins Sahar, German l... EDA uses GMVIS Skysoft and Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre
Paris - Stevan Perrot joins Sahar as new COO In late January, the French big data analytics firm Sahar brought
UAE/UNITED STATES : Social Links, new ally of OSINT specialist Sicuro Group
Still clinging to its ambitions to impose itself in the United Arab Emirates, the open source intelligence (OSINT) provider Social
UNITED STATES : BlueVoyant in unfair dismissal spat, two ex-Met chiefs team up, GEOS lands Dushanbe contract
Dover, Delaware: Cyberfirm BlueVoyant sued by former CCO After several attempts at reaching a settlement, tech veteran Paul Kleinschnitz filed
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Ezra Friedlander, Turkey's lobbyist in Washington, teams up with Ankara's allies
The New York and Washington-based career lobbyist Ezra Friedlander, head of Brooklyn-based The Friedlander Consulting Group, is now working for the Azerbaijan
UKRAINE/BELARUS : Kyiv counts on Kalinovsky Regiment to prepare for a post-Lukashenko Belarus
Observers were perplexed when a faction of the Belarusian opposition in exile in Warsaw announced on 7 February that it
UAE : Axiom Telecom woes cast shadow on UAE's EDGE Group chief Faisal Al Bannai's stellar rise
Intelligence Online's sources say that Axiom Telecom is poised to lay off between 50 and 60 engineers. The company is headed by Fahad
UNITED STATES : Battle of forensic investigators between Silicon Valley flying car makers
New court documents filed in the Northern District of California last month show that Wisk Aero, a company developing "flying cars", has retained Andy Crain, a Managing Director for Berkeley Rese...
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : JS Held streamlining with guidance from shareholder Kelso
The expertise and corporate intelligence firm JS Held has started to close offices in Latin America and will probably close some on
CHINA : Recruitment drive for key posts at Chinese propaganda and United Front Work departments
Last week, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a major recruitment campaign in a number of key services: the United
BELARUS : Belarusian 'Bellingcat' caught up in opposing disinformation campaigns
The Belarusian Hajun Project (Hajun) has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks, as it tries to maintain the activities
AUSTRALIA : Mark Arena enters counter-drone space with DroneSec after Intel 471 exit
Mark Arena, a former technical specialist with the Australian Federal Police, has stepped down as CEO of the US threat
UAE/FRANCE/INDIA : Paris tries to convince Abu Dhabi to transfer Rafale offsets contract to India
Intelligence Online understands that France is trying to convince Abu Dhabi to transfer the offsets contract of the UAE's €16bn order for 80 Rafale fighter jets to India. As we revealed yesterd...
UNITED STATES : Battle with agent threatens Janus Global's future State Department contracts
Private security firm Janus Global Operations (JGO) filed a motion to dismiss legal action being brought by RS Logistical Solutions in an Eastern District of
KUWAIT : Security service reform gives Kuwaiti interior ministry greater powers
The national security service, which was wound up on 6 February on the orders of Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
CHINA/UNITED STATES : MIT pioneers academic counterintelligence against Chinese infiltration
With tension between China and the US continually on the rise, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is putting in place a new
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/IRAQ/RUSSIA : Talabani family fe..., DGSE's secret stash, Tracfin-PNF cooperation, China's vision
Iraq: Talabani cousins revive family feudOn 22 February, Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani issued his first statement since the start of
FRANCE : Jacques Salognon gets back to work with Wide Int after Deveryware sale
In early February, a new company, intelligence technology reseller Wide Int, was registered at the Paris Commercial Court. Its founder,
UAE/FRANCE : Dassault and Tawazun in stalemate on Rafale deal offset terms
There were tense discussions about the UAE's order for 80 French Rafale. Executives from Dassault Aviation, which heads the Rafale international consortium that brings
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Geologists and spies join forces to track critical minerals supply chains
As part of their work investigating what national security concerns could arise from the UK's access to, or lack of, critical minerals, members of the British Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committ...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Nazarbayev's US contacts challenge Kazakh government's asset recovery drive
The complaint filed before the district court in Nevada on 16 February has intensified the tug-of-war between supporters of former
UNITED STATES : US senator Lindsey Graham banks on business benefactor behind visa-for-sale firm
Senator Lindsay Graham, one of former president Donald Trump's most staunch congressional allies, has raised more than $150,000 for his
UNITED KINGDOM : US, Israeli firms in court battle over British combat simulation solutions
On 17 February, Britain's defence ministry, the MoD, began submitting its arguments to the Technology and Construction Court. The US C5ISR
UKRAINE : Ukraine's bodyguard in chief Sergiy Rud
It has been one year since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Twelve challenging months in which Sergiy Rud, the
UKRAINE/BELARUS : Belarusian dissidence forms armed unit under Ukrainian patronage
Discussions have been ongoing since the start of the year between Ukrainian senior officers under armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny and a
POLAND/BELARUS : Beer Station: the Warsaw pub where the Belarusian dissidence's plans are brewed
Those without insider information wouldn't necessarily know to head downstairs at 17 Lwowska Street, in the heart of Warsaw, where
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Paragon hires Holland & Knight to remain in Washington's good graces
The US subsidiary of Israeli cyberintelligence firm Paragon, located near Washington, DC, just hired Holland & Knight to lobby the
RUSSIA : Nikolai Patrushev strengthens Karelia clan in Russia's security apparatus
Yuri Aveyranov's dismissal as first deputy secretary of the chairman of the National Security Council on 1 February sparked rumours
SAUDI ARABIA/SYRIA : Saudi Arabia's earthquake aid reveals Riyadh's changing posture towards Syria
With several sources saying that Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud will soon visit Damascus for the first time
CANADA/UAE/EUROPE : Belgian SIGINT, Luc Majdalani at BlackSky, Tadaweb supported by Nancy Clark in Canada
Brussels - Belgian army pursues SIGINT upgrades On 14 February, Belgium's defence procurement agency, the Direction Générale Material Resources (DGMR),
UAE : One year on, CPX, formerly Digital14, still finding itself
In its first annual report last week, CPX, the UAE's new cyber-offensive champion, paints a glowing picture of its first year of existence, highlighting the signing of international partnerships ...
UNITED STATES : Norfolk Southern's army of lobbyists help group avoid stricter regulation and safety rules
Norfolk Southern, the company responsible for the 3 February derailment that poisoned the Ohio town of East Palestine and surrounding
THAILAND : China casts shadow over Bangkok telecoms market
True Corp, Thailand's second-biggest mobile telephone company, majority owned by the Chinese-Thai Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), is poised to seal
UNITED STATES : Dechert and del Rosso's counterattack against Azima and hackers for hire exposes ENRC's involvement
In a defence motion submitted to a North Carolina, USA, court on 9 February, embattled private investigator Nick del Rosso
ITALY/PAKISTAN : RCS Lab attempts to revive links with Pakistan
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, the Italian lawful interception company RCS Lab is reviving its business networks in
SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi Arabia's sovereign PIF works on development of Riyadh International Airlines
According to information obtained by Intelligence Online, members of the former deputy governor of Riyadh Mohammed bin Saad's family are involved
RUSSIA : Valery Tikhonov, the man behind Kremlin's secret messages
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on 31 January approving an additional 70 new staff for the State Courier Service, the GFS.
RUSSIA : One year of war all but wipes out Russian private investigation market
The sudden death last month of Oleg Babinov, a legendary pioneer of corporate intelligence in Moscow, came just days before the first anniversary of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on 24 ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Royal Navy vet Bennett at Capita, Governances, Gateley Omega, Xirius helps EU
London: Royal Navy vet Bennett's success as defence sector consultantPublishing its decision on 27 January, the Advisory Committee on Business
UKRAINE : COSA's private investigators take up position in Ukraine's foreign ministry
The hire should be made official shortly by Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Pavel Verkhniatsky, founder and managing partner at
UAE/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Washington wants Dubai-Russia trade route to end
The US Treasury Department has been vocal in its annoyance at the growing number of private Dubai-based traders selling goods to Russia from the emirate's Jebel Ali Free Zone. Arriving in Dubai o...
FRANCE : Paris relaunches New Caledonian spatial and intelligence hub
A new satellite receiver is to be installed at the Nouméa-La Tontouta air base in New Caledonia, signalling the facility's growing importance in the Indo-Pacific regional power struggle against ...
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA : Wang Duanyong, the academic testing the waters for China in Afghanistan
Wang Duanyong, the director of the Centre for China's Overseas Interests Studies at the School of International Relations and Public
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Harvard law professor Matthe...nitor legislation impacting lawyers and advisers for oligarchs
The British embassy in Washington, D.C. has retained Harvard law professor Matthew Stephenson to prepare a report on how US professionals, including
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Russia's Rosvgardia trains new elite units in Minsk
Since January, the 604th Special Purpose Center's Vityaz unit of the special forces of Russia's National Guard, Rosgvardia, have been
CHINA/UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : KMT engaged in intricate balancing act with Beijing ahead of 2024 presidential elections
Opposition Kuomintang party vice chairman Andrew Hsia's visit to China, which ended on 17 February, allowed him to voice criticism
GERMANY/RUSSIA : Metals specialist Walter still operating in Russia under Kyiv's watchful eye
Despite announcing it would depart from the Russian market in press releases last year, the German metal work and tools
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russian intelligence puts down roots in Donetsk
News leaked in January that General Oleg Bolomozhnov was transferred from Saratov oblast to a new position as head of the Russian
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/IRAQ/RUSSIA : Kovalchuk cl... Beijing and its reservists, China's model ambassador in Paris
Russia - Kovalchuk clan adds another link to Kremlin spymasters On 11 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed physicist Mikhail
ISRAEL : 'Team Jorge' revelations turn spotlight on avatar market's technological and legal difficulties
On 15 February, Forbidden Stories published its investigation detailing the Advanced Impact Media Solutions (AIMS), the avatar production platform developed
CANADA/UNITED STATES : Spy balloon incursion highlights NORAD intelligence capacity shortcomings
North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, has had a busy month, taking down what was understood to be a Chinese spy balloon on 4 February and intercepting Russian military aircraft on 13 F...
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Robert Stryk steps in between MBS and his nemesis Saad Al Jabri
The new case that Robert Stryk's Washington-based lobbying firm Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD) - formerly Sonoran Policy Group - is
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN : Nurzhan Marabayev, the new link in UAE-Kazakh oil shipping partnership
UAE shipping companies are doubling down on efforts to win a share of the Caspian Sea transport market. On 13
UKRAINE : Nassonov and Pechenizhky, EU and NATO event planners in war-torn Ukraine
Conference Service Center (CSC) and Ukrainian Conference Service Center (UCSC), two small Ukrainian companies, are the go-to suppliers for international conferences
SAUDI ARABIA : Abdulaziz Al Howairini holds sway over Saudi Arabia's internal security
The gradual takeover of all Saudi Arabia's power structures by Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), the crown prince and son of
FRANCE : Chilli hotpot and chinwags: where the Chinese in Paris love to tuck in and gossip
No matter their proximity to their country's business and intelligence interests in Paris, Chinese hosts planning ultra-discreet culinary gatherings go
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/JAPAN : Australia strengthens academic-security links with Indo-Pacific allies
After first meeting in the United States on 26-27 January, a trilateral US-Japanese-Australian group of AI experts will get together
CHINA/HONG KONG : CY Leung leading Hong Kong's effort to attract foreign groups
The group of Hong Kong lawyers that Westminster banned last week from attending a parliamentary good governance meeting can count
UNITED STATES : Shift5 pulling out all the stops in Washington
Late last month, the Technology Applications Program Officer (TAPO) of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which supplies US special
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN : ISI chief Nadeem Anjum in hot water over Pakistan Taliban attacks
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Nadeem Anjum's (IO 02/09/22) plans to deal with the resurgence of deadly attacks by the Pakistan Taliban were put
RUSSIA : Russian intelligence community anxious about open source leaks
Russian intelligence services are now exempt from having to publish information about their activities and suppliers in dedicated public registers,
France/Israel/UAE/United States : Bold at ISS, UAE National Space Fund, Citalid at GISEC, David Hochhauser at Convexum
Herzliya/Dubai - Israeli start-up Bold Analytics takes first steps at ISS World Middle East & AfricaThe fledgling Israeli startup Bold
UNITED STATES : Retired Admiral Stavridis enjoys thriving business career in defence and finance
On January 31, retired Navy Admiral James Stavridis, the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, published a Bloomberg column under the
UNITED STATES : CIA turns attention back to human intelligence
A House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on 8 February, which former CIA chiefs Sue Gordon and David Petraeus addressed, highlighted US incomprehension at China's intentions
UKRAINE/BELARUS : Kyiv and Minsk keep diplomatic and trade ties despite sanctions
Ukraine is continuing to import Belarusian diesel fuel, notably via Azerbaijani oil company Socar, despite the sanctions it has itself
UKRAINE : Ukraine seeks to jettison Russian OSINT technology
According to our sources, Ukraine's defence ministry is working on the development of a methodology for gathering, analysing and storing
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : OSINT experts hold their breath as Bright Data-Meta lawsuit plays out
In late January, Israeli web scraping company Bright Data filed a lawsuit against US social networking giant Meta which owns Facebook and Instagram in a case which is being followed very closely ...
FRANCE : Anticiper seeks to export DRM's Battle Lab to private sector
The Paris consulting firm Anticiper has recently started to pitch its new investigation simulation training solution to corporate intelligence firm companies. The
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Lukashenko takes care to keep Russophile strongman Karpenkov onside
On 6 February, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree setting up a commission to study the cases of political
UZBEKISTAN : Farkhod Mamatdjanov, the Uzbek presidential family's trusted financier
At the start of this year, the Uzbek government announced it will be privatising several public banks and entities during
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM : Stratia Cyber deploys cybersecurity centres in UAE
With Britain's cyber sector trying to re-establish itself in the Gulf - the Cyber Wales cluster signed a memorandum of
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : New twist in the Iraq-Dale Stoffel assassination court case
On 26 January, lawyers for the Iraqi government appealed a US judge's ruling ordering it to pay a judgment of $89m to the family of an American businessman and arms broker who was killed near Bag...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : MPP protects LVMH again, 5 Stones minus Harrington, Nardello in Singapore
Paris: MPP returns to protect LVMH Management & Private Protection (MPP), Jean-François Rosso's personal protection company, secured a contract
RUSSIA : Russia's state protection service shores up against infiltration
New internal security norms came into force at the FSO, the Russian federal service that protects institutions, critical infrastructure and
UKRAINE : Presidential office tightens grip on security apparatus
After a seven-month stint as acting head of Ukraine's internal intelligence agency, the SBU, Vassyl Maliouk was made domestic intelligence
FRANCE : French intelligence services and financial prosecutors increase ties
The head of France's financial state prosecution service (PNF) Jean-François Bohnert told a parliamentary commission on foreign interference in French
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE : Abu Dhabi challenges Riyadh for UNESCO director-general role
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai and head of the UAE's federal government, recently conducted a reshuffle
CENTRAL ASIA/UAE : Seitnepesov connects Gulf shipping companies to Caspian oil players
Businessman Murat Seitnepesov, a specialist in oil trading and logistics, is pursuing partnerships with Gulf port operators looking to strengthen their presence in the
CHINA/TURKEY : Turkey's Kron group launches drive in Dubai and New York after severing links with ZTE
Turkey's Kron Teknoloji, which specialises in cybersecurity services for the telecommunications sector, has been looking to make its mark at
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Nucle...al arsenal as Westinghouse and KEPCO stand by for court action
Nuclear power giants Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and Westinghouse have until mid-March to reach a settlement or the legal battle between the Korean and American nuclear power plant builders...
SYRIA : In northwest Syria, warring parties seek to shore up strongholds after earthquake catastrophe
The unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe struck northwest Syria after a dozen years of war, repeated epidemics and amid widespread economic collapse.
BULGARIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/LEBANON/RUSSIA : Intelligence... anti-drone battle, CIA's PCRB problem, Bulgarian intelligence
France: Intelligence Academy advertises for new director When the French Intelligence Academy, housed within the Military School of Paris, published
ALBANIA/UAE/ISRAEL : Abu Dhabi ready to bankroll Israeli-Albanian cyber teamwork
Several separate sources have indicated that Abu Dhabi is ready to finance all or part of the cybersecurity contracts Albania
AUSTRIA/KAZAKHSTAN : Former Austrian Chancellor swaps politics for Israeli cyber business and Kazakh mining
To develop its activities in Europe and particularly in the Balkans, Kazakh mining group Eurasian Resources Group (ERG, formerly ENRC)
GERMANY : Allies increasingly concerned about intelligence cooperation with Germany's BND
Sources in Paris, Washington and London say that allied intelligence services are increasingly concerned about information being leaked from the
CHINA : 'Shaanxi Gang' on the rise during Xi's third term
While on the international scene President Xi Jinping's attention is caught up in the surveillance balloon affair with the United
RUSSIA : Kremlin-linked Kiriyenkos consolidate influence over cyber and big data markets
As the new Russian deputy minister of civil defence, emergencies and disaster relief, following his appointment on 31 January as
FRANCE/IRAQ : Barzani to meet Macron and Borne in Paris
According to our sources, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, will visit Paris on 16 February, where he is to be received by the French Prime Minister ...
JAPAN : Hiroaki Takizawa aims to ensure Japan plays key Indo-Pacific intelligence role
Spy chief Hiroaki Takizawa, who is in charge of the Naicho (Naikaku Joho Cjhosashitsu), known internationally as the Cabinet Intelligence
UNITED STATES : Colombian authorities seek to question former CIA officer in trade union murders
A prosecutor in Colombia's attorney general office demanded that James Adkins, a former CIA officer who served as the security
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukrainian helicopter crash revives anger over Airbus contract
The helicopter crash that killed Ukraine's interior minister Denys Monastyrskiy and his aide on 18 January (IO, 19/01/23), delivering a heavy, emotional blow to President Volodymyr
Ukraine : The InterContinental Kyiv, a haven for Western support in the heart of the Ukrainian capital
The InterContinental in Kyiv has never borne its name so well. With the country now at war, most conversations in
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Kyiv looks towards France for matters of cybersecurity
A French delegation of firms specialising in cybersecurity travelled to Kyiv in early February under the digital transformation working group
UNITED KINGDOM : ViennEast enlightens UK parliament on Russian influence in the Balkans
Anthony Monckton, a former senior official in the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), or MI6, attached to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, was
CAMBODIA/CHINA : Yunnan Construction group spearheads Chinese influence in Southeast Asia
Despite some delays linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new international airport in Siem Reap is scheduled for completion in
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Aziz Ahmed, the Kurdish PM's powerful right hand man and unofficial fixer
At first glance, the most important name disclosed in a lobbying contract signed January 6 on behalf of the Kurdistan
CHINA/HONG KONG : From Hong Kong to Taiwan, Xi Jinping wants shift from 'one country, two systems' to single government
On 16 January, Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) since 2020, announced in
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh opposition turns to US courts to hasten asset recovery efforts
Kazakh opposition politician Bulat Abilov and financier Orazaly Yerzhanov, co-founders of the Asset Recovery Fund of Kazakhstan - in Kazakh Yelge Qaitaru -, announced on
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : Interrupt Labs in the...ometrics, Infinity Technology for Missile Defense Agency's CTI
London - UK vulnerability researcher Interrupt Labs looks for talent in US and Australia For the past few weeks, British
UKRAINE : Ukrainian military cyber gets into shape for NATO outpost role
Oleksi Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (RNBO), signed a technical agreement to join the country's
INDIA/ISRAEL : Israel's NSO and Candiru eye new Indian interceptions contract
The Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), India's intelligence service, is poised to launch a tender for new mobile phone and computer spyware this month, Intelligence Online's sources say. Candidates ...
UAE/FRANCE : Paris pulls out all the stops to join MbZ's new networks
UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MbZ) is making changes to his teams, after the government's executive arm, Abu Dhabi
UNITED KINGDOM : From Tony Blair to Helsing via Equilibrium, UK's former Chief of the Defence Staff Nick Carter keeps busy
The British government's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which approves private sector roles taken up by former public servants, announced
UNITED KINGDOM : Millicom calls in corporate intelligence veteran in legal battle with former investigator
By sending former investigator Michael Clifford's case against his old employer, the Millicom telecommunication group, to a new employment tribunal
GERMANY : Vcheck changes leadership, Schmidt goes from Schi...roup, Hakluyt recruits, FTI and Orrick on sanctions in Germany
New York - Vcheck shakes things up at the topUS due diligence and background check delivery company Vcheck has parted
ISRAEL : Israeli intelligence mobilised in response to renewed violence
Israel's internal intelligence chief Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet (IO, 23/09/22), and Aharon Haliva, the head of military intelligence, Aman, have both
RUSSIA : Putin confirms hold on strategic research bodies through seasoned adviser Fursenko
On 25 January, Vladimir Putin renewed the term of Andrei Fursenko, ex-education and science minister-turned-presidential adviser, as head of the Russia's Science
KAZAKHSTAN : KazMunayGas seeks partners to help find Caspian Sea export routes
Magzum Mirzagaliev, the former Kazakh Minister of Energy and now chairman of KazMunayGas (KMG), used President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to
INDONESIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Cyber Capacity Unit champions British cyber diplomacy in Indonesia
The British consultancy Cyber Capacity Unit (CCU), which has been helping the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) roll
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Geneva think-tank uses private diplomacy to try to reconcile Moscow and Washington over the Arctic
In line with Chatham House rules, the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) published nothing regarding the meeting it hosted at the end of January, which was attended by a group of carefully ...
CHINA/ITALY : Giorgia Meloni set to take a softer line on China
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni plans to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in May, Intelligence Online understands. Ideally, she will
UNITED STATES : NSA banks on work-study contracts to meet hiring challenge
The National Security Agency (NSA, IO, 19/01/23) has kickstarted 2023 with plans to hire 3,000 new staff across all of
AUSTRALIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : The W...esponse to its ex-fighter pilots training Chinese counterparts
For months, the legal teams of several ministries of defence in the West have been working on possible legal avenues
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : French military veteran Bernard Velly redeploys in Saudi Arabia with Scopa Industries
French retired vice admiral Bernard Velly, 57, has joined Scopa Industries, a defence subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian family industrial conglomerate Ajlan &
UNITED STATES : Atheeb Intergraph remains top Saudi Air Force imagery processing provider
On 27 January, the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) renewed its foreign military sales contract with the US-Saudi joint venture
RUSSIA : Kiriyenko clan close to Kremlin expands reach in business and politics
The first deputy chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration, and overseer of the annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories,
FRANCE/IRAQ : Paris bets all on arms exports to Iraq
Arms procurement activities have got into full swing between Paris and Baghdad, now that the "acquisition by the Iraqi side of French military equipment" is listed in the comprehensive strategic ...
FRANCE/IRAQ : Intelligence central to strategic partnership between Paris and Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani's visit to Paris from 26 to 27 January (IO, 24/01/23), was a let down from
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Strategic disinformation over troops' movements in Belarus intensify on all sides
Despite assurances from Minsk to the contrary, for several weeks Russia has been placing its pawns to allow itself the
FRANCE/IRAN/JAPAN/RUSSIA/VATICAN : Mossad attack on Iran, W...ation head meets the Pope, Russian security council reshuffled
Israel/Iran - Mossad satisfied by latest operation against Iran Israel's Mossad intelligence service and its boss, David Barnea (IO, 11/11/22),
EUROPE/HUNGARY : Viktor Orban's intelligence corps keeps watch in Brussels
We understand that the Hungarian civilian foreign intelligence service, Informacios Hivatal (IH), has been instructed to keep as close a
SAUDI ARABIA : Jerry Inzerillo, head of Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Gate mega-project, has MBS's ear
At the Diriyah ePrix on 27 and 28 January, a key race on the Formula E championship calendar, Jerry Inzerillo gave an update
UAE : OryxLabs, shelter for ex-DarkMatter and Digital14 cyber specialists
While the UAE's part public cyberintelligence industry, in which national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan has a close hand, focuses
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Long-serving Turkey lobbyist Lydia Borland drums up support in Congress
Alex Beckles, a career lobbyist with strong connections to the US Democratic Party and head of his eponymous firm Alexander
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/JAPAN/SINGAPORE : All eyes on DGSE's move into Indo-Pacific
Intelligence Online understands that the French external intelligence agency, DGSE, has sent one of its most senior directors, Marc P., to Singapore. Marc P., who had until now been head of intel...
UNITED KINGDOM : Airbus and OneWeb eye House of Lords influence thanks to the new Tory whip
Lord Graham Evans, Baron Evans of Rainow, who was appointed as the new government whip in the UK's House of Lords
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Parisian PR veterans back Kyiv through #StandWithUkraine
#StandWithUkraine is in the middle of its preparations for its next big, shock public relations event. On 22 February, it
UNITED KINGDOM : Julian Lewis, the combative Conservative intelligence overseer seeking further oversight
The newly knighted Conservative MP Julian Lewis is locked in battle with the government and UK intelligence services to defend
TAJIKISTAN : In midst of discreet presidential succession war, security officials sharpen their blades
Rustam Emomali, the mayor of Dushanbe and eldest son of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, asserted his authority in regime circles by
UNITED STATES : For meetings with colleagues and foreign liaison visitors, CIA officials head to J. Gilbert's steakhouse
When most people pick a restaurant, great food, atmosphere and price are generally the most important criteria. If you work
UNITED STATES : USCYBERCOM extends deal with its trusted cyber contractor CS3
US cybersecurity company Cyber Systems & Services Solutions (CS3) has had its contract with the US Air Force for the
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : From Congress to US CENTCOM, Washington treads carefully in the face of new Israeli government
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made sure to bring up bilateral intelligence cooperation on a visit to Israel on 18-20 January,
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Abbas Ibrahim played role in Beirut port security director's flight to US
With a smile on his face and a sudoku in his hand, ex-Beirut port security chief Ziad Al Awf flew
RUSSIA : Sergey Plugotarenko, a key link between the Kremlin and Russian digital industry leaders
The Russian government is determined to make its digital industry more self-sufficient, and in a bid to do so, the
UAE/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/SINGAPORE/MYANMAR : Andrei Masalov... Yeo joins G42, Moscow tightens up its cyber security controls
Naypyidaw - Andrei Masalovich resumes his charm offensive in Myanmar According to our information, Andrei Masalovich, chief executive of Russian
PAKISTAN/UAE : Rapidev takes Pakistani electronic warfare know-how to UAE
Rapidev, the official distributor of materiel from the Pakistani defence production ministry-owned military electronics company National Radio & Telecommunication Corp (NRTC), will be exhibiting ...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Fog of Ukrainian war envelops Mozart Group
The personal quarrels between bosses Andy Milburn and Andrew Bain (IO, 13/01/23) undermined the Mozart Group's operations, and the specific circumstances of the Ukrainian theatre
UNITED STATES : Former FBI deputy Timothy Murphy takes on fight against short-selling attacks
After plunging in value from more than $8 a share five months ago to about 30 cents early this year,
ASIA/UAE/KAZAKHSTAN : Presight.ai is opening up Asian markets for Emirati cyber group G42
On 18 January, Presight.ai, a joint venture set up by Emirati artificial intelligence specialist Group 42 and Israel's Rafael Advanced
RUSSIA : Financial incentives and social perks aplenty to attract new Russian intelligence talent
The Russian defence ministry is working on a decree to be submitted to the parliamentary lower house, the Duma, for
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Risk and Intelligence firms' hunger for ex-CIA China experts grows
China expert Travis Whitworth has teamed up with the corporate intelligence firm Ergo, run by RP Eddy, former chief of staff of ex-US ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke. Whitwort...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ergo, Vantage, G3, Silverbridge, Audere, Amarante, GEOS, Baubigeat Zeller
Washington - Ergo brings in a Navy SEAL As well as hiring former CIA China specialist Travis Whitworth (IO, 01/02/23),
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Intelligent Waves takes Owl to court over secret Air Force lab contracts
On 13 January, the US cybersecurity company Intelligent Waves (IW) filed suit before the Virginia Eastern District Court against US
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : PR magnate Richard Attias has big plans in Riyadh and beyond
The French-Moroccan entrepreneur Richard Attias has been poring over plans to expand his business to advise French firms wanting to
UNITED STATES : Former FBI official Charles McGonigal's indictment: what went on behind the scenes
On January 23, the US Justice Department unsealed the indictment of Charles McGonigal, former head of the FBI's counterintelligence unit
UKRAINE : Zelensky's inner circle reshuffle shakes up its business networks
The corruption scandal that led to the departure of several deputy ministers and governors on 24 January has given the
FRANCE : Anti-corruption agency pleads for closer collaboration with intelligence services
During his hearing by the MPs from the parliamentary enquiry commission on foreign interference on 26 January, the head of the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), Charles Duchaine, pleaded for g...
EUROPE/BELARUS : Belarusian opposition's lobbying rubs European Council the wrong way
For several weeks now, the Court of Justice of the European Union has been overturning EU Council decisions to impose
UNITED STATES : ODNI suffers political fallout from Biden classified documents discovery
Under bipartisan criticism from Congress after the revelation that President Joe Biden kept classified documents in the garage of his home,
FRANCE : France's Bull must do without its former defence ministry digital strategy chief
Retired General Jean-Jacques Pellerin lost a Paris administrative court appeal on 12 January in which he had hoped to overturn a defence
UAE/LEBANON : Saad Hariri gets business backing from UAE master spy Tahnoon bin Zayed
Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri is closely involved in the management of new Abu Dhabi-based investment company Nerve Investment, according to information obtained by Intelligence Onli...
RUSSIA : Alexander Khinshtein, the deputy pushing the national guard's legislative needs
United Russia majority party MP Alexander Khinshtein temporarily put his journalist's hat back on during Russian Press Day on 19
ISRAEL/JORDAN/NORWAY/RUSSIA : Russian defectors, Netanyahu ...Shin Bet head to Amman, US spy integration procedures reviewed
Norway/France/Russia: Russian defector's story challenged Cannes-based campaigner and businessman Vladimir Osechkin has been acting as spokesman for Andrei Medvedev -
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Zahid Group at heart of new US-Saudi defence channel
Zahid Industries' grand inauguration of its defence production facility on 16 January is a first step in the ambitious goal
FRANCE/ITALY/TURKEY : Ankara bids to get into space observation's major league with Impro
Impro, the young company distributing Turkish defence ministry satellite images, signed a partnership agreement on 20 January with its preferred
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Pentagon gets battle ready in the Arctic
Earlier this month, the US Department of Defence (DoD) teams working on a draft Arctic Strategy since September were joined in person by the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Admir...
France : France's Benoit Puga tests private sector waters at Geomines and Erys
Stepping down as grand chancellor of France's Légion d'Honneur on 31 January, General Benoit Puga, ex-presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande's former
UAE/UNITED STATES : US PR firm Edelman's contract with Masdar reconnects it with UAE
With the restructuring of the UAE publicly owned renewables company Masdar completed in December, Sultan Al Jaber, its multi-role director, is looking to raise
SAUDI ARABIA : Nabil Barakat, ex-Thales agent in Gulf, courts Saudi conglomerate Ajlan & Bros
Nabil Barakat, the US agent of Jordanian-Palestinian origin who heads Wamar International and Oriole Capital Group (OCG), recently proposed working with Saudi Arabian
UNITED KINGDOM : The Fitzroy Tavern, a London pub where corporate investigators spend a happy hour
Anyone hoping to meet private investigators in London would be wise to head down to the Fitzroy Tavern for a
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Mozart Group's internal strife tarnishes reputation of American volunteers in Ukraine
Mozart Group, an organisation of American volunteers who are training the Ukrainian army (IO, 12/01/23), is hanging its dirty laundry out
RUSSIA : Veteran spy Vladimir Bulavin heads customs service caught between war economy and internal feuds
It's been all go at Russia's Federal Customs Service, the FTS, ever since its officers were ordered to rethink Russia's
YEMEN : Oman's spymaster Mohammed Al Numani marks turf as mediator in Yemen talks
Mohammed Al Numani, the head of Oman's Royal Office, sent a delegation of intelligence officers to Sana'a to meet Houthi
UNITED STATES : Pentagon expert Two Six Technologies acquires cyber offensive capacities
In early January, the US cyber-intelligence company Two Six Technologies opened a recruitment programme to bring in a team of
TURKEY : Turkey's MIT maps out intelligence academy plans
The MIT, Turkey's powerful intelligence service, is poised to add a new string to its bow with the creation of
GERMANY/FRANCE/TURKMENISTAN : Paris and Berlin in race to woo Ashgabat for business
A business lunch organised at France's Cercle de l'Union Interalliée in Paris on 11 January brought together Turkmenistan's ambassador in France Maksat
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/POLAND : Capgemini safeguards EU trade secrets, Recorded Future lobbyists, Altus at Frontex
Brussels - Capgemini and VVA, guardians of European firms' innovations against China In December, the Italian consultancy Valdani Vicari &
BANGLADESH/ISRAEL : Like Intellexa, Merlinx collaborates with Bangladeshi intelligence
While the Athens-based spyware firm Intellexa, founded by the former head of Israel's Unit 8100 Tal Dilian, was recently exposed by Haaretz for providing its services to Bangladesh, the country's...
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Former political prisoner Entifadh Qanbar inks deal to foster closer US-Kurdish ties
On 6 January, a Virginia-based non-profit called the Kurdish Protection Action Committee (KPAC) registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act
FRANCE/QATAR : Qatari emir Sheik Tamim's 'good news' Paris trip takes shape
The Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's upcoming trip to France is coming closer to realisation, with talks
HONG KONG/UNITED KINGDOM : Mitmark investigates crypto, Adrian Stones goes solo, and TRAG quits Hong Kong
London - Mitmark called in to investigate NFTs Women in Blockchain Talks founder Lavinia Osbourne has enlisted the services of
UNITED STATES/BALKANS : Washington consulting companies show renewed interest in the Balkans
A new company is looking to find a place for itself in the Washington consultancy market. It is aiming to
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Moscow's asset recovery against ex-bankers moves forward in New York
Russia's National Bank Trust (NBT), owned by the Central Bank of Russia, launched a new phase of its legal battle
CHINA : A new faction forms around Xi Jingping: the Tsinghua clique
With his new team in place for his third term, Chinese President Xi Jinping is increasingly surrounding himself with a
SAUDI ARABIA : MBS plays nuclear contenders off against one another to spur US into action
Having organised a packed visit to the United Arab Emirates on 30-31 January for the French Economy and Finance minister
UAE : Royal Technology Solutions, Tahnoon bin Zayed's personal cyber integrator
Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the brother and national security adviser of the Emirati president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
UNITED KINGDOM : Harry and Meghan's private security contracts boost VVIP niche market
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's security risk has heightened in the wake of publication of Prince Harry's autobiography 'Spare', released around the world on 10 January. In the tell-all book, pu...
VIETNAM : Ministry of Public Security's latest drive for power lies behind political crisis
The political shake-up that led to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's forced departure amid a corruption scandal over Viet A's Covid-19
CHINA : Xi Jinping invites foreign experts into closed-door meetings on China's challenges
China is testing out a new method to help it gather analysis on international issues. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Russia accelerates use of Belarus as rear training base
The start of the year saw large-scale Russian troop movements to and from Belarus: in the first three weeks of
FRANCE/IRAQ : TotalEnergies, Rafale, and Baghdad metro project set to keep Iraq's al-Sudani busy in Paris
According to our sources, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani will visit Paris on 26 January for his first visit to France as
ISRAEL : Former NSO cyber experts reunite in new startup Bold, backed by Israeli businessman Shlomi Fogel
Israeli startup Bold Analytics recently revealed the names of its new hires from the Israeli cyberintelligence world, including Jean-Claude Haddad, previously head
UKRAINE/BELARUS : Parallel private diplomacy efforts between Kyiv and Minsk secretly thriving
Despite Belarusian involvement in Russia's military campaign (IO, 17/01/23), Ukrainian middlemen intervened to reduce the number of Belarusian entities put
UAE/FRANCE : Patrick Pouyanné and Sultan Al Jaber play central role in France-UAE business ties
On 12 January, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber was appointed president of COP28, to be held in Dubai in November 2023. But alongside preparations for the meeting, the UAE's minister of industry and advance...
FRANCE : French financial intelligence service Tracfin makes management changes as part of strategic plan
Béatrice C. is to step down as head of the Probity department of Tracfin, the French financial intelligence service, in
UNITED KINGDOM : Truss follows Johnson and May into the private sector
Former British prime minister Liz Truss, who, after just 49 days in office, holds the record as the shortest-serving prime
FRANCE/UKRAINE : French domestic intelligence service keeps Ukrainian community in France under surveillance
A Ukrainian national recently had his application for French nationality refused after the French domestic intelligence service, the Direction Generale
CHINA/UNITED STATES/UZBEKISTAN/PALESTINE/EUROPEAN UNION/UNI...cession reboot, Russian separatists summit, China's reservists
United Kingdom/United States: Britain buddies up with US Space ForceIn its report "Defence Space: through adversity to the stars?", published
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : France's finance minister and Ardian align to capture Gulf sovereign wealth fund windfall
French Minister for the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire is, according to our sources, to attend the opening of
INDONESIA/RUSSIA : Russian OSINT firm Lavina Pulse pursues Southeast Asian conquest
After being banished from Facebook in December (IO, 29/12/22), Lavina Pulse, the Russian open source intelligence, or OSINT firm, that other US
RUSSIA : Putin keeps protecting his defence ministry chiefs against attacks by FSB and Wagner
Intelligence Online has learned that Vladimir Putin decided to ignore the findings of a secret probe launched last year into deputy defence ministers Timur Ivanov and Alexei Krivoruchko for suspe...
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : From Russian mines to London networks, heir Ildar Uzbekov embroiled in legal battles
Russian and British dual national Ildar Uzbekov has recently been caught up in a legal battle before the London High Court. The
CHINA : China builds team to develop strategies to thwart post-Taiwan invasion sanctions
Gao Xiang's appointment as head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in October (IO, 21/10/22) is another piece
UKRAINE/BELARUS : War in Ukraine: Kalinovsky Regiment aims to expand
During the last 10 months of fighting, the Belarusian Kalinovsky Regiment's feats on the Ukrainian battlefield have won it the
UNITED STATES : Potbelly Sandwich Shop provides respite for overwrought agents at FBI's New York field office
Located just south of Broadway, the Potbelly Sandwich Shop is always full during the very short lunch period enjoyed by
CHINA/VIETNAM : Hanoi corruption affair linked to Chinese power struggles
The arrest of businesswoman Truong My Lan has triggered top-level discussions between the Vietnamese and Chinese authorities. Vietnam's public security ministry has
EGYPT : Abbas Kamel, the ubiquitous spy chief consolidating Sisi's power
On 11 January, when spymaster Abbas Kamel was summoned by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss civil aviation projects in
UAE/UNITED STATES : Israel's Rakia Group hires Rayzone founder to tap into US market
Omri Raiter's Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) firm Rakia Group (IO, 28/04/22) has been busy recruiting business development experts to
CENTRAL AMERICA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE/QATAR : EU's hy...pus Cyber, Social Links in Latin America, BAE Systems in Qatar
Brussels - EU picks Leonardo and Indra to develop European cyber situational awareness centre. On 30 December, the Italian defence
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : British ex-diplomat Jonathan Dart at centre of succession process at Saudi conglomerate MBI
British ex-diplomat Jonathan Dart, who made a name for himself facilitating British defence deals in Libya, is branching out into Middle
CHINA : Xi instructs media to increase coverage of France, South Korea and Pakistan
President Xi Jinping has decided to use the press to indicate and highlight which members of the party's Politburo Standing
UKRAINE : Helicopter crash: Death of litigation mastermind a tough blow for Kyiv
Kyiv will struggle to replace the expertise and international acumen of the late Yevheniy Yenin, who died in a helicopter
EUROPE : EU faces intelligence capacity challenges
Almost eleven months on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) wants to boost its own intelligence capacities
EUROPE : Intertech adds yet another EU security contract to its belt
The Council of the European Union wants to increase contributions to Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) external operations over
UAE/ITALY : Memento Labs tries to get back into UAE market through local distributor SAT
Italian cyber-intelligence company Memento Labs (formerly Hacking Team) recently began placing its products in the catalogue of Emirati distributor Scientific
UNITED STATES : USCYBERCOM takes step towards acquisition autonomy
As it prepares to open its first Program Executive Office (PEO), the US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is preparing to fulfil one of the three requisites towards its independence from the National Se...
UNITED KINGDOM : Baroness Goudie taking her interests under the radar
Following the recommendations of the House of Lords Conduct Committee, Labour peer Baroness Mary Goudie was suspended from parliament on 11 January
BOSNIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : StoneTurn, Highgate, Passage Consulting, EPEE
New York/London: Mackintosh marks StoneTurn's arrival on British insider threat market The New York-based intelligence and advisory firm StoneTurn has
UNITED STATES : Cofer Black, former CIA Counterterrorism Center chief, has colourful history on corporate boards
Last month, authorities in Latvia raided and shut down Baltic International Bank (BIB) in Riga on the grounds that it
FRANCE/YEMEN : TotalEnergies keeps an eye on Hachid tribal confederation
On 8 January, Sheikh Himyar bin Abdullah al-Ahmar was elected head of the Hashid tribal confederation, the second biggest in
ISRAEL : Israeli OSINT specialist Labyrinth closes despite support of former intelligence chiefs
The Israeli open source intelligence, or OSINT, firm Labyrinth (IO, 23/08/21) closed in early January. Once viewed sympathetically, OSINT has come
FRANCE : With LVMH-Squarcini indictment, epic battles that once raged in French corporate intelligence come to the fore
The trial of Bernard Squarcini, if confirmed by investigating judge Aude Buresi, should involve the network of those who once dominated France's corporate intelligence networks. In December, the ...
BULGARIA/UNITED STATES/SERBIA : Bulgarian oligarch enlists US lobbyists' help in battling Sofia authorities
The US law firm King & Spalding (IO, 18/02/22 and 20/07/22) has been advising Bulgarian former banker Tsvetan Vassilev since
UKRAINE : Ukraine's economic security services under close scrutiny
Eleven MPs, 10 of whom are members of the Servant of the People party, have been appointed to a temporary
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Russia ramps up strategic disinformation campaign north of Ukraine
Telegram channels and pro-Kremlin online media sites have published a flurry of content presented as 'leaks' or 'insider' information since the
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks
As the Russia-backed normalisation process between Turkey and Syria rolls on (IO, 22/11/22), the United States will need to adapt
RUSSIA : Arms conglomerate Rostec expands its asset portfolio as war puts wind in its sails
The state arms conglomerate Rostec is taking full advantage of Russia's transition to a war economy (IO, 08/12/22). For several
GERMANY/IRAQ : British, UAE intel firms help Iraq money-laundering fight with German funding
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (IO, 19/12/22) has been vocally publicising its anti-money-laundering and asset-recovery efforts,
ISRAEL : Israeli cyber tsar Tal Dilian plans Tel Aviv return
As Intelligence Online learnt from several sources, Tal Dilian, a leading entrepreneur in Israeli cyber industry, is about to announce
CHINA/UAE : Chinese cyber surveillance firm renews contact with UAE
China's Sinovatio is getting ready to make its big comeback at Dubai's ISS World on 28 February-2 March. The firm, a protégé
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA : The unassuming Kabul guest house at the heart of China's Afghan business networks
A contract signed in Kabul on 5 January by Afghan mines and oil minister Shahabuddin Delawar and a senior executive from the Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co (CAPEIC), which provides fo...
UZBEKISTAN/RUSSIA : Equestrian sports chief Bakhrom Gaziev, a key cog in Tashkent's business networks
At the recent soccer World Cup in Qatar, Uzbek businessman Bakhromjon Gaziev (Bakhom Gaziev), an informal envoy for his country's government,
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM : UAE Deputy PM's former business interests NMC, KBBO, Sayacorp battle it out in wake of fraud scandal
A preliminary ruling issued on 4 January by Abu Dhabi Commercial Court states that Bahraini bank Sayacorp, formerly First Energy
CHINA : Xi Jinping's new anti-corruption campaign to concentrate on finance and property
Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to give the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCID) of the Chinese Communist Party
UNITED STATES : All eyes in the House on intelligence as new committees created on China, and politicisation
Matters of intelligence are at the heart of strategic decisions made by the newly-formed House of Representatives. In its first
ISRAEL : Netanyahu's cabinet pushes for changes to cyber export rules
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet is in the throes of a major rethink about cyber tool export regulations. A new framework
CHINA/IRAQ/MOLDOVA/RUSSIA/TURKEY : Moldovan security counci... crack down, Xi Jinping and Moscow, Ankara struggling with PKK
Moldova - Presidential cabinet musical chairs.Changes are afoot at Moldova's Supreme Security Council. On 10 January, Moldovan President Maia Sandu
UAE : Abu Dhabi brings in consultants galore to steer its growing airport empire
Terminals Holding, part of the business empire of Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother and national security adviser of
UNITED STATES : Razor's Edge gains firmer foothold in US intelligence
By securing a contract worth more than $12m for the Signature Management using Operational Knowledge and Environments (SMOKE, IO, 14/10/22,
FRANCE/UKRAINE : French intelligence service kiboshes naturalisation of Ukrainian potential asset
Late last year a Ukrainian citizen lost his court bid to overturn the French interior ministry's refusal to grant him French nationality in 2017 and again in 2018. An administrative court in the ...
UNITED STATES : Randy Nixon roped in to get CIA up to speed on OSINT
The CIA has opted for internal promotion in appointing Randy Nixon as director of Open Source Enterprise, the unit in
RUSSIA : Victor Pelevin, the novelist on Russian security elites' bedside tables
Fans of Victor Pelevin mulled over a familiar conundrum on the occasion of the famous Russian novelist's sixtieth birthday in
CHINA : Xi Jinping to bring PLA political commissars to heel
Assured of a solid third term, President Xi Jinping is free to relaunch what he sees as a long-term priority
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Private military contractors thrust into heart of Ukraine conflict information war
The turf war that broke out on 11 January between retired Marine Andy Milburn, founder of the Mozart Group, and
CAMBODIA : Business magnate Rithy Sear acts as informal emissary for Cambodia's PM Hun Sen
Unlike tycoon Chen Zhi, the CEO of Prince Holding Group whom most foreign embassies in Phnom Penh have distanced themselves from, embassy
ITALY : Ex-carabinieri Francesco Dattola builds small empire with NSR
As small cyberintelligence businesses in Italy are working to hold their weight against construction giant Cy4gate (IO, 23/12/22), ex-carabinieri Francesco
KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh financial intelligence ups pace of asset recovery investigations
On 5 January, Kazakhstan's attorney general Berik Assylov presented on 5 January a report to the country's parliament on the ongoing investigation
ALBANIA/UNITED STATES : US corporate intel firm Straife launches Balkan conquest in Albania
The US corporate intelligence and diplomacy firm Straife (IO, 09/12/22) launched its new Tirana office with great fanfare on 3
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : US volunteers in Ukraine: Mozart Group's marines go to battle against each other
On the same day the Mozart Group - whose name is an allusion to Russia's Wagner Group - was busy
UNITED STATES : Arsenal Media Group, prominent GOP political consulting firm, mired in crisis
On 27 December, the prominent GOP political and media consulting firm Arsenal Media Group announced on Twitter that it was
FRANCE : ADIT rings in the New Year with changes at the top
ADIT is gradually undergoing its reorganisation, and is in the process of making the necessary appointments, which have just been
RUSSIA : Security services tighten grip on Moscow's Higher School of Economics
On 9 December, the Higher School of Economics (HSE), a prestigious public teaching and research university, fired lecturer Dinara Gagarina,
UKRAINE : Ukrainian space agency takes on enhanced satellite communications role
At the end of last year, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, the RNBO, instructed the State Space
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/JAPAN : Look Up Space, Tokyo builds informational warfare centre, Arfan Chaudhry joins Saudi Space Agency
Toulouse: Look Up Space on recruitment driveThe Toulouse-based space situational awareness, or SSA, startup Look Up Space, founded by former space
UNITED KINGDOM : Strategic electronic warfare firm Ultra Electronics reorganises under new shareholder Advent
Advent International Corp, through its defence support subsidiary Cobham, has recently begun to remodel the management structure of its new subsidiary Ultra Electronics Holdings, which provides a...
BELGIUM/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : CRA, Amarante...ahmachari returns to CRG, Nadia Schadlow joins Sigma7 and Ergo
London - CRA seeks replacement for Panes.Nicholas Panes' departure for JS Held in December (IO, 23/12/22) has forced the London office of the
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : McCarthy's Speaker election spurs Kyiv lobbyists into action
Kyiv's lobbyists in Washington will have their work cut out for them to curry favour with the new speaker of
RUSSIA : Kremlin's favourite crisis management services compete for leadership of institutional security
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian infrastructure were one of the reasons for the Russian parliament to approve a bill on
France/UAE : Bruno Le Maire off to Abu Dhabi to get France's rail plans back on track
Bruno Le Maire is finally planning to visit the United Arab Emirates on 30 and 31 January. The French Minister
SOUTH KOREA : Stealien supplies its cyber products to the South Korean intelligence services
South Korea, where close to 900 foreign policy analysts have suffered cyber attacks from neighbouring North Korea since the beginning
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/QATAR/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Quest, M...5 Stones lead the race in 'sport business' investigations boom
Former FBI agent John Penza has moved up the pecking order in recent weeks. He has become head of investigations at David Tinsley's company, 5 Stones Intelligence. This amounts to the reconstitut...
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : MbS banks on Washington's support to boost impact of international tourism platform
In spite of the diplomatic rifts between Mohammed bin Salman and US President Joe Biden, Riyadh is banking on Washington
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Kalman Chaim Sporn helps Turkish embassy in Washington promote rapprochement with Israel
Barely reconciled Israel and Turkey's bilateral relationship is already under strain (IO, 11/11/22), with new Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to
UNITED KINGDOM : New ISR-oriented consulting firm Pinnacle Atlas launches in Middle East
Pinnacle Atlas, a new defence and intelligence consulting firm, was founded by discreet sector veterans Jason Sierra and Brian Allan
CHINA : Xi Jinping's wife, Peng Liyuan, forms new group for future CCP leaders
Less than three months after the end of the 20th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xi Jinping's
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Defence industry lobbyist leads rare earth producers to federal contracts
The British firm Less Common Metals (LCM), which specialises in rare earth elements, has been working with the US lobbying firm Capitol Integration
FRANCE/TURKMENISTAN : Turkmenistan government speeds up industry prospection in France
French senators Hervé Maurey and Arnaud de Belenet visited Ashgabat on 8-10 December at the invitation of the Turkmenistan government to present an
ISRAEL : Quadream reels from impact of new regulations
In recent weeks, Quadream and its sister company InReach Technologies, registered in Cyprus, have reportedly let go of over 35
AFGHANISTAN/UAE : Terminals Holding: Abu Dhabi's strategic tool to extend influence among allies
When Taliban defence minister Mohammad Yaqoub and UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MbZ) met on 5 December, some of the discussions were focused on the restoration of Afghanistan's airp...
FRANCE : Corexalys wins Ministry of Armed Forces' cyber watchdog contract
According to our sources, Corexalys was awarded the framework contract "Defence, security and action in cyberspace: issues, environment, threats, challenges"
RUSSIA/BELARUS : New Russian foreign intelligence publication reveals all on Belarus's KGB
The council of veterans of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has released the first issue of its brand new
FRANCE/GEORGIA/IRAQ/KAZAKHSTAN : Sudani rallies his troops,...lligence College in Europe, investigation into Kazakh services
Iraq - Mohammed Shia al-Sudani rallies his troops after sackings.Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (IO, 29/11/22) convened a meeting
GERMANY/EUROPE : Brussels brings in consultants to help it learn first lessons from war on Ukraine
Two companies have been working on studies for the European Defence Agency since the start of the year. One is
FRANCE/JAPAN : Dassault mired in Japanese surveillance plane conflict
Intelligence Online has discovered that French defence company Dassault is embroiled in a legal dispute over its most strategic contract in Japan,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : France scathing about US hunting forward operations in Europe
Addressing the French parliament's national defence and armed forces committee on 7 December, Aymeric Bonnemaison, the head of French cyber command, COMCYBER,
CHINA : Inspired by Russia's mistakes, Beijing fine-tunes its military strategy on Taiwan
While the Chinese military used the vote on the new US military budget - the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023, which has a strong focus on China and ties with Taiwan - to flex its musc...
HUNGARY : Hungarian intelligence presses ahead with reforms in midst of upheavals
Just like its neighbours Poland and Belarus, which saw Ukraine air defence missiles land on their territory late last year,
FRANCE : Paris pursues big submarine ambitions in Indo-Pacific
French defence companies are hoping to land military sales in countries neighbouring China as tensions mount in the region's waters.
AFGHANISTAN : Abdul Haq Wasiq struggles to hold reins of bureau dominated by Haqqanis
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, the intelligence service then called the National Directorate of
EUROPE : ChapsVision and Cy4gate continue to consolidate Europe's cyber intelligence sector
According to our information, French big data analytics group ChapsVision is looking for new partners in Italy. The company, which
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE : Riyadh challenges Abu Dhabi for regional cyber hub role
Dubai is no longer the unchallenged nerve centre of the Gulf cyber sector. This fact has been clearly highlighted by
UNITED STATES/TAJIKISTAN : Outgoing Ambassador Pommersheim brought the US closer to Tajikistan's security apparatus
Intelligence Online has learned that Tajikistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) worked with Tajik embassies to ask INTERPOL for help last year in arranging the arrest of members of the Pamir...
UKRAINE : The PR Army communications stalwarts who are getting Kyiv's message out to the world
Whether via LinkedIn, Twitter or email, members of Ukraine's PR Army have been contacting Western journalists covering the war in
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Amanat Publishing, the mysterious company promoting jailed former Kazakh spymaster Massimov
Karim Massimov, Kazakhstan's ex-Prime Minister and spymaster under former President Nursultan Nazerbayev, has fallen upon hard times in his home country. Once among the most powerful figures in t...
BAHRAIN/FRANCE : Jean-Christophe Durand, the royal family and sovereign fund's French adviser
The Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa wants to use the Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund
UZBEKISTAN : Mirziyoyev strengthens security roles for close entourage
The reform of the Uzbek constitution remains a priority for President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who won another term in office in
UKRAINE : Turmoil and gains for Ukraine's spymasters at heart of the war
As Russia's war on Ukraine continues, the world has gradually come to learn of the role its intelligence services - generously fed with US technical intelligence - play in its military action beh...
UNITED STATES : CIA's Directorate of Operations feels left out
According to information we have gathered, the changing structure of the CIA (IO, 21/12/22) into mission centres for analysts, field officers
RUSSIA : Russian intelligence has eyes and ears on military research
Since Russia launched its assault on Ukraine, all eyes have been on the Russian military - its use of drones from Iran, manufacturing new Russian drones, the missing components, the complicated i...
CHINA : Xi Jinping chooses the CCP's future leadership team
According to two well-placed sources in the Chinese security apparatus, President Xi Jinping has asked Ding Xuexiang, Wang Huning and
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ITALY/LEBANON/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/V...leader Fra' John Dunlap inherits tradition of secret diplomacy
Led since June by Canadian lawyer Fra' John Dunlap, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta - or more succinctly the Order of Malta - is more inv...
CHINA/TURKEY : Huawei flounders after losing Turkish bid
Chinese Huawei has reportedly lost the ticket to provide the Turkish armed forces (TSK) with data network services, currently provided
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ISRAEL : Meta threat report puts OSINT specialists under the spotlight
Meta's Threat Report on the Surveillance-for-Hire Industry, published on 15 December, heralds a turning point for open source intelligence (OSINT) specialists. Most of the companies named in the ...
UAE/ISRAEL : Ex-spy chiefs to boost Israeli business in UAE
At the Tel Aviv Hilton on 6 December, a networking event organised by the Abrahamic Business Circle served as an
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Aliyev family winds up its UK cultural diplomacy networks
Members of President Ilham Aliyev's family are often rewarded for their efforts to polish Azerbaijan's image abroad. Aliyev's sister-in-law, Nargiz Pashayeva, was for example awarded the honorary...
CHINA/UNITED STATES/LAOS : New airport in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle sparks Western intelligence concerns
Officers of the CIA and the DEA, the US anti-drug agency, and European intelligence services based in Bangkok have been on tenterhooks since
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Industrial assets, the other Russian-Ukrainian battle front
Winemaking in Crimea is a highly symbolic affair. As a result, ownership of the vineyards that produce the peninsula's emblematic wines is a thorny matter: since 2014, local Russian-appointed aut...
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/YEMEN : Abu Dhabi imposes its control of Red Sea on Aden
Abu Dhabi and the Aden-based Yemeni government, represented by Defence Minister Mohsen Al Dairi, signed a new military, security and counterterrorism
FRANCE/LEBANON : France and Qatar join in support of Lebanese presidential contender Joseph Aoun
France has been calling on its networks to back its preferred candidate to fill the power vacuum facing Lebanon for the past few months: commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Joseph Aoun....
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : JS Held prepares for further acquisitions in 2023
According to our sources, the corporate intelligence and techno-legal consulting firm JS Held is poised to announce the appointment of two heavyweight
LEBANON/QATAR : Al Fardans lose counterclaim against Lebanon's Bank Audi
Qatar International Court, Qatar's financial court, handed down a ruling in favour of Lebanon's Bank Audi on 24 November after a counterclaim from
UNITED STATES : George Clooney's NGO hit in court by a Sudanese businessman accused of corruption
The Sentry, the "investigative and policy organization that seeks to disable multinational predatory networks" co-founded by actor George Clooney and
VATICAN : Pope Francis dons spymaster cloak for his diplomatic grand plan
Pope Francis is carving out a role for himself as a diplomat, busy on all fronts, but does that by
CHINA : Li Shulei, the propaganda boss working to make Xi the "people's leader"
After promoting Li Shulei from vice director to director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s propaganda arm at the end
CROATIA/FRANCE/NORWAY : Zagreb refines shopping list for new naval materiel
Croatia's €72m order for the Mistral-3 short range missile from France's MBDA, announced on 9 December, is the latest in a
NORTH AMERICA/ASIA/EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST : Intelligence Online's spyware gift list for the holidays
Whether looking for the perfect end-of-year gift for an intelligence fan, a security buff, a military enthusiast or a keen
ITALY : How small Italian cyber intelligence companies are reacting to Cy4gate's omnipresence
A delegation of small Italian cybersecurity companies is reportedly preparing to present their technology to the Italian senate and ask
UNITED STATES : Tech giants' woes provide openings for security and intelligence firms
The success of Cinder Technologies' series 'A' funding round, which raised $10m from the venture capital firms Accel and Y Combinator on 6 December,
UAE/UNITED STATES/QATAR : Hardball player Bullpen Strategy ...launch new front for Abu Dhabi in information war against Doha
The long and expensive influence peddling war in Washington between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar shows no signs of
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Paris uncomfortable with private diplomacy initiatives with Russia
While Emmanuel Macron is intent on maintaining channels of discussion with Moscow - the French president plans to speak to
GERMANY/KAZAKHSTAN : Berlin advisers and lobbyists increase contacts with Astana
Kazakhstan's visiting deputy prime minister and foreign minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi met German industry leaders at a well-attended business lunch in
RUSSIA : Russian zero-day seller Expocod gets active while war rages in Ukraine
The Russian zero-day vulnerabilities firm Expocod has recently relaunched its activities after several years' interruption, say Intelligence Online's sources. The company,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : DGA-MI automates electronic warfare;...omputing; Advent International beefs up intelligence portfolio
Bruz: France's DGA-MI takes interest in AI for electronic warfareFrance's DGA Maîtrise de l'Information (DGA-MI), the branch of the French procurement
ISRAEL : Israeli cyber-intelligence tries to get back on top in Indo-Pacific region
Israel's cyber-intelligence firm Rayzone Group announced it was opening an office in Manilla last week, following a trend in Israel's offensive cyber sector, which is hoping to re-establish itsel...
UNITED KINGDOM : SecureValue rebuilt from former G3 team
Ken Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of River Glaven, who co-founded the human rights-focused Matrix Chambers with Cherie Blair and headed the UK's Crown
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Rinat Akhmetov draws on the resources of his business empire to relay Ukraine's voice in the US
On 1 December, the Wall Street Journal published an investigation into the ships being used to transport Ukrainian cereals for
FRANCE : Goron to supplant MPP at LVMH, GEOS in El Salvador...anctions helpdesk, banking lobby fights financial crimes in EU
Paris: Goron poised to take over from MPP as LVMH provider While still finding his feet as the new head
UNITED STATES : For aspiring CIA officers and geopolitical ...ogram named after George H.W. Bush wants to offer inside track
The new year is right around the corner and, for students looking for a career at the CIA or elsewhere
POLAND : Poland's military industry focuses on underwater protection
Beyond strengthening its land capacities, intelligence sensors and cyber defences (IO, 28/07/22), Warsaw has established underwater protection as its naval defence
UAE/TAIWAN : Taiwan's space industry makes foray into UAE with Tron Future
Taking its first bow at the IDEX defence fair in Abu Dhabi in February 2023, Taiwan's Tron Future Tech is looking to profit from
UNITED STATES : Podesta back on track for revolving-doors businesses thanks to naming by Biden
On 1 December, the Office of Government Ethics approved John Podesta's financial disclosure form, which he was required to file after Joe Biden named him Senior Advisor to the President for Clean...
MOLDOVA : Counter-intelligence and external intelligence reforms examined in Moldova
Moldovan citizens had until 13 December to give their opinion to parliament on intelligence reforms currently in preparation. Lungu Vitalie, principal
FRANCE : Altrnativ's all-in bid fails to win over DGSI
After POLITICO Europe published an exposé on Altrnativ's practices on 7 December, the French data analytics company has been in
GERMANY/CHINA/FRANCE/JAPAN : What China hopes to achieve through its massive new business offensive in Europe and Japan
In early December, the official Chinese press announced with great ceremony that two delegations, comprising respectively 30 and 50 companies,
RUSSIA : Russia's religious institutions clash over military draft exemption
The debate continues to rage in Russia over alternative civic service, which provides a means for conscientious objectors not to
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Omar Harfouch hires former Clinton aide to boost his foray into politics
The jet-setting Omar Harfouch, whose previous ventures include Ukrainian modelling agencies and French reality TV, has now set his sights on
EUROPE/TAIWAN : Taiwan's spies talk up China threat to European counterparts
To accelerate its attempt to sensitise European intelligence services with regard to China, the Taiwanese National Security Bureau (NSB) has
FRANCE/GREECE/ITALY : Athens relaunches Franco-Italian corvette race
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Naval Group Chief Executive Pierre-Eric Pommellet, and Tassos Rozolis, president of the Greek arms
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : US forces' fuel supplier Jamal al-Alam dropped for supposed links with Tehran
On 13 November, the United States Department of Defense finally cancelled without notice the fuel supply contract held by the
RUSSIA : Kremlin-backed oligarch operates Crimean railway from Gibraltar
On 1 December, the businessman Ziyavudin Magomedov and his brother, former senator Magomed Magomedov, co-owners of Summa Group (IO, 13/10/21), were served a 19-year prison sentence in Moscow for ...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/IRAN/MOLDOVA/SYRIA : Hossam Louka in R...ate Department's generosity to Chisinau, France's Zahra center
Syria/Saudi Arabia - Hossam Louka pops up in Riyadh. Syrian President Bashar al Assad sent his intelligence chief Hossam Louka
FRANCE/IRAQ/JORDAN : Macron's second Baghdad conference ruffles Iraq ahead of its opening in Jordan
The second Baghdad conference, pledged for by French president Emmanuel Macron, will take place on 20 December in Jordan, as
UNITED STATES : US State Department ramps up its defence against biological threats
The new Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, announced in a press statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Ex-French minister Le Drian to become adviser for Saudi defence industry
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, Saudi defence contractor Scopa Industries is poised to welcome Jean-Yves Le Drian as
UNITED STATES : Former Maven director Aaron Prupas launches artificial intelligence consultancy
His military career may only be just behind him, but Aaron Prupas, a US Air Force general and space and
RUSSIA : Russian elites torn ten months into war in Ukraine
In early December, the streets of Moscow lit up for the Christmas holidays, but the decorations were more sober than usual. The capital's powerful mayor, Sergey Sobyanin (IO, 22/11/22) decided th...
UNITED STATES/LATVIA : US lobbyist David Merkel at the centre of Latvian lawyer's murder case
On 23 November, lawyers submitted a discovery request before the Arizona district court, to ask that David Merkel, head of
CHINA/UNITED KINGDOM : UK parliamentary committee pleads for greater oversight in face of Chinese threats
The proposed new memorandum of understanding annexed to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) annual report published on 13 December
JAPAN/VATICAN : Japan tries charm offensive on Vatican City
Japan is determined to boost its relations with the Vatican and, in an attempt to gloss over the anti-Chinese Communist
NORWAY/RUSSIA : The Thon Hotel in Kirkenes: where spies come in from the cold
With its enormous bay window looking out over one of northern Norway's fjords, the Thon Hotel in Kirkenes is a
FRANCE : New DGSI technical director Philippe Chose thrown headfirst into French cyber rivalries
Philippe Chose has left his post as second in command of the French administration's interceptions service GIC (Groupement Interministériel de
FRANCE/UKRAINE/ESTONIA : Frenchman Arnaud Castaignet harnesses Estonian networks bringing support to Ukraine's army
Estonian energy storage tech firm Skeleton Technologies Vice President Arnaud Castaignet recently travelled to Ukraine to deliver equipment to the
CAMBODIA/CHINA : Prince Holding Group spearheads Chinese business influence in Cambodia
With the recent appointment of Hun Sen as Cambodia's prime minister exciting interest in Beijing and Washington, both the United States and
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Lobbyist Ron Phillips is back in the game promoting French-German land defence interests in DC
A week after midterm elections that saw the Democrats retain the Senate and the Republicans take control of the House
UAE/GEORGIA/EUROPEAN UNION : EU supplying Georgia with cyber tools via UN and distributor SAT
On 18 November, the Georgian internal affairs minister received a consignment from Emirati cyber intelligence and forensics systems distributor Scientific
IRAN/SYRIA : Tehran pulls its militias from Syria to beef up domestic fronts
As defections from Iran's armed forces continue to multiply, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force (IO, 22/07/22), Ismail
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL : NGA call for tenders, Peg...unite for GISEC, anti-cryptojacking tool, Rayzone hires at NSO
Springfield: NGA looks for computer vision provider On 30 November, the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) launched a request for
CHINA/ITALY : Meloni draws on intelligence services to find new balance with China
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is continuing to draw on the country's intelligence services to protect the country from possible
QATAR/UNITED KINGDOM : Doha's diplomatic immunity upheld in Al-Nusra Front financing case
The Commercial Court of England and Wales finally decided in November that it was not competent to judge the different
RUSSIA : Financial intelligence remains last Russian bastion open to international cooperation
The update of the interministerial commission against terrorism's rules and regulations by presidential decree on 5 December confirms the unique position of
SWEDEN : Sweden bullish about corvettes, helicopters, submarines and ISR
Published at the beginning of November, the recommendations of the commander in chief of the Swedish armed forces Micael Byden
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE : SecuTronic takes on al-Maktoum rulers in Dubai
On 28 November, the court of first instance of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai financial's free zone, ruled
BELGIUM/FRANCE : Euranova to supply AI to French police drone tracking programme
The French interior ministry's Drone Tracking air surveillance programme incorporated an artificial intelligence component on 18 November, entrusted to the Franco-Belgian data
CHINA/RUSSIA : Chinese zero-day hunters skirt restrictions via Russian platforms
Intelligence services in the West are taking an increasing interest in the Chinese government's zero-day vulnerability disclosure requirements, believing these are being used to stockpile vulnera...
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Boston's Airde Group trips up on Turkish rugs
In a ruling handed down on 29 November, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey stated
UNITED KINGDOM : Nick Panes leaves Charles River, prepares next moves
Intelligence Online's sources say that Nicholas Panes resigned as vice-president of the Risk, Investigations & Analytics practice of the US strategic consulting and
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Ukrainian parliamentary national security committee helped by Republican friends in Washington
The Washington-based government and public relations firm Navigators Global has been working pro bono for the Ukrainian parliamentary national security, defence and
ARGENTINA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Argentina keeps a low profile to secure deal for F-16 fighter aircraft
A delegation sent by new Argentinian Economy Minister Sergio Massa arrived in Denmark in late November to finalise the details
FRANCE : Chosen by DGSI, ChapsVision develops its sensors
Recently selected to participate in the second phase of the OTDH Big Data platform project overseen by France's internal intelligence
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-Erys found Audacia...cks Saakashvili, Araud joins Portland, Raedas checks the books
Paris - Former Erys bosses create Audacia. Security duo Christian Sommade and Alexis Arif, respectively the former chairman and former
UNITED STATES : 'Queen of Wall Street' Pelosi is top-flight Congressional trader
The 17 November announcement by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi that she would step down from the Democratic Party leadership in the House of Representatives following the US midterm elections will al...
BELARUS : In-fighting weakens Belarusian dissidence
The "ministers" of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's alternative government are struggling to create their teams and take concrete action. Four months after
UAE : Tahnoon bin Zayed uses his financial empire to tighten grip on UAE defence sector
Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the national security adviser and brother of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is taking another step towards centralising several strategic sectors in Abu ...
CANADA/IRAQ : New Baghdad Airport security contractor Biznis Intel comes under fire from Iraqi MPs
Canada's Biznis Intel, the new provider of security services at Baghdad Airport, is already in a delicate position. The replacement
CAMBODIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : How Hun Sen and his clans plan to keep control of key ministries in 2023
Expected in Paris today to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in power since 1985,
RUSSIA : Kremlin ploughs more funding and staff into Russian Federation Investigative Committee
After receiving the new "Human Rights Militant of the Year" prize from Dmitry Medvedev, the vice-president of the security council, in
UKRAINE : Ukrainian asset recovery agency replenishes military coffers
War bonds worth some 867m Hryvnias (€22.5m) have been acquired in four bundles by Ukraine's Asset Recovery and Management Agency,
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : While supporting US Command ...n Ukraine, CACI securities still traded on Moscow stock market
There is a series of discreet technical communiqués from the St Petersburg stock market that have been attracting a lot
BELARUS : Belarusian facial recognition company set to get a hearing before the EU Court of Justice
After 18 months of document exchanges between the civil plaintiff, Belarusian facial recognition system supplier Synesis, and the defendant, the
UNITED KINGDOM : BAE Systems' vulnerability experts found Foundry Zero
Foundry Zero, a British cyber-securities firm that published its articles of incorporation on 9 November, is rapidly expanding and hiring
RUSSIA : Russian customs service fights to extend its responsibilities
During his speech before the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Federal Assembly, on 30 November, Gen. Vladimir
CHINA/HONG KONG : Xi unveils Hong Kong and Macau renaissance plan
The "one country, two systems" model is certain to continue to define Hong Kong and Macau's relations with Beijing. However,
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA/FRANCE/LATVIA/PAKISTAN/SWEDEN/SYRIA/MACED... Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Skopje and NATO, PLA in Taiwan
France/Syria - French company Smart Pegasus remains under sanctions for participating in Syrian chemical weapons program.On 21 November, the Paris
FRANCE : Key French cyber entrepreneur, Erwan Keraudy taking a more hands-off management role at CyberAngel
Ambassadors from the French Tech start-up group were part of French President Emmanuel Macron's delegation during his visit to his
FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/VATICAN : Pope courts Macron to mediate negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv
Rumours that Emmanuel Macron hopes to win a Nobel Peace Prize in the event of a successful mediation between Russia and Ukraine have not fallen upon deaf years at the Vatican. Pope Francis has ma...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakhstan's opposition working to raise awareness in London and Washington
According to information we have gathered, the Kazakh politician Bulat Abilov travelled to London the first week of December. Abilov,
SAUDI ARABIA/SPAIN/FRANCE : Naval Group's fight for Saudi Arabian combat ship deal sunk by Spain's Navantia
On a visit to Riyadh on 30 November, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation, made up of its Secretary
UNITED STATES : Invisible Inc, Louis Vuitton's corporate investigator in counterfeiting case
A counterfeiting and trademark violation case decided on 21 November revealed information about how Louis Vuitton, part of LVMH group,
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Lobbying firm Straife comes to Turkey's rescue in dealings with US Treasury
According to our sources, the Houston-based lobbying firm Straife is currently working for Turkish companies in the US at a
UAE : National Tailors, the Dubai ruling family's bespoke garment-maker
Surrounded by his staple stock of white kanduras, the long white traditional dress worn by UAE men, Mohammed Al Madani,
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Embezzlement accusations fly thick and fast for billionaire Kairat Boranbayev
Businessman Kairat Boranbayev has been making headlines in Kazakhstan over the past month. The accusations of embezzlement that first saw
TAIWAN : Xi Jinping's allies try to tip Taiwanese opinion towards closer cooperation with the mainland
The poor performance of President Tsai Ing-wen's Democratic Progressive Party in the Taiwanese local elections on 26 November can be
FRANCE/ROMANIA : Bucharest presses Paris for fast processing of its order for two Scorpene submarines
Romania is pressing France's defence sector to speed up the commercial procedures required for it to acquire two Scorpene-class submarines
FRANCE : ChapsVision wins first phase in building French intelligence service's future Big Data platform
After 10 months of work on phase one of the Big Data platform project, dubbed OTDH, followed by two months
KYRGYZSTAN : Kyrgyzstan spymaster Kamchybek Tashiev manoeuvres in politics behind the scenes
From arrests and forced exile of opponents to inflammatory management of border conflicts, Kyrgyzstan's only intelligence service, the national security council
UNITED STATES : Meet Red Banyan, key Israeli ally in the US public relations world
In mid-October, the Miami area PR agency Red Banyan promoted to the post of Senior Vice President of Client Success
ITALY : Intelligence services turn to academia to develop their economic skills
With economic security increasingly seen as the new "must-have" by the European intelligence services responsible for national security, Italy's intelligence
PAKISTAN : Behind the scenes of spymaster Asim Munir's appointment as Pakistani army boss
Long negotiations preceded Asim Munir's appointment on 24 November as the Pakistani army's new chief of staff. The country's political
JAPAN : Paris takes interest in Japanese naval rearmament
According to our sources, Naval Group and France's military procurement agency, the DGA, (Direction Générale de l'Armement) have entered talks with
RUSSIA : Russian defence group Rostec cosseted by the Kremlin and the Duma
A meeting of the newly constituted Coordination Council on 24 November allowed the Russian authorities to get up to date
GERMANY/BANGLADESH : German Plath Group gains ground in Southeast Asia, starting in Dhaka
German signals intelligence (SIGINT) specialist Plath Group is rapidly expanding in Asia. Michael Kalt took charge of the company in
TURKEY : SiberAsist, Turkish intelligence's cyber tool shopper
At the end of November, French group Thales sent a team to Istanbul to meet the company distributor Komtera Teknoloji, one of the branches of the Günal family's small business empire. Another of...
GERMANY/AUSTRALIA/UAE/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE : German ...n Institute, Jerome Pasinetti heads Rhea Cybersecurité France
Frankfurt/Washington - Germany's security ecosystem gets in gear for World Cup 2026.While the FIFA football World Cup 2022 in Doha
UNITED STATES : RP Eddy, whose firm Ergo worked for Uber, advises Lytical Ventures, which criticised his former client
In its newsletter published online in late-October, Lytical Ventures, a New York City-based venture fund that focuses on corporate intelligence,
UNITED STATES : McLarty and Ikea, UN investigator in Manchester, Avisa in crypto, SFO's Edwards, Houghton at Strategy&
Brussels: Ikea to turn to McLarty over possible Belarusian prisoner links?Accused in November by media outlet Disclose of buying from
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Centre for Information Resilience, British rising star of OSINT, seeks US funding
Nina Jankowicz's 18 November FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) report has thrown US conservative media into a tantrum. The former
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Deposed Ukrainian aircraft engine manufact...otor Sich chairman at heart of secret Kyiv-Moscow negotiations
The long-serving fallen chairman of Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Boguslayev, is, according to our information, on a list of names proposed
ISRAEL : IBI, trust services provider for Israel's cyber industry
At the end of November, the Israeli cyber-intelligence company Candiru (or Saito Tech, formerly Taveta) welcomed a new shareholder: IBI
UNITED STATES : FTX collapse sparks jitters in due diligence world
In a scathing filing to the US Delaware court handling the implosion of the cryptocurrency platform FTX, John Ray III, who has been appointed to oversee the bankruptcy, stated "Never in my career...
UKRAINE : Ukraine's SBU to score partial victory in counterintelligence power struggle
A previous iteration of a bill updating Ukraine's laws on counterintelligence, which had been in the works since September (IO, 07/09/22),
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/SWITZERLAND/LIECHTENSTEIN : Name of da... Tzur surfaces in huge inheritance case of tycoon Israel Perry
On 18 November, the Chancery Court of Delaware in the US approved a discovery request filed by Lilly Perry -
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-British govt security chief Fortescue bursts onto cyber security scene in London
Dominic Fortescue, who served as the British government's chief security officer, attached to the prime minister's cabinet office, from 2018
ISRAEL/QATAR : Tus Airways flights add towards normalisation of Qatari-Israeli relations
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 offers a unique opportunity for a rapprochement between the host country and Israel, as
CHINA : China looks for new recruits for its phantom foreign police stations
In early November, the Chinese foreign ministry introduced a major change in the list of qualifications required by the staff
JAPAN/RUSSIA : Moscow chooses new ambassador to Japan
The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry's Asia director (3AD), Nikolay Nozdrev recently had an interview for a new job: Russian Ambassador
FRANCE/ISRAEL/ITALY/SLOVENIA : Slovenian Navy prospects for new patrol vessels
According to Intelligence Online's sources, the Slovenian Navy is actively prospecting for two new patrol vessels, or OPV, as it looks to strengthen
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES : Cubic Digital Intelligence wins the trust of Australian Army Special Operations
US firm Cubic Digital Intelligence (CDI) has hit the ground running in Australia, where it has won four tenders with
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : After Naval Group's flop, French defence groups try to bounce back in Riyadh with Scopa Industries
It came out of the blue. On December 1st, the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed an agreement to deliver five multi-mission frigates to the Royal Saudi Navy, thus depriving the French Naval Grou...
UNITED STATES/INDIA/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : As hacking accu...s against it mount up, CyberRoot strikes back in Indian courts
The number of accusations of hacking levied against CyberRoot in Europe and the US is increasing, and Intelligence Online understands
RUSSIA : Russia diplomacy redraws map
Intelligence Online can reveal that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by permanent fixture Sergey Lavrov, is preparing to make
UNITED STATES : NSA-US Cyber Command likely to keep 'dual hat' leadership under Biden
The audit conducted by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford on the leadership arrangement between
FRANCE/GEORGIA/IRAQ/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Georgian protection se...inues in Iraq, DGSI right to consult medical records confirmed
Georgia - state protection service moves up a rung.For a few days now, Georgia's State Special Protection Service (SSPS) chief
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : French defence industry honchos hobnob with Kazakhstan's President Tokayev in Paris
On his recent diplomatic visit to Paris Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rubbed shoulders with French business and industry at the Hotel d'Evreux,
UAE : Bayanat boards Emirati geospatial data processing projects
The UEA GEOINT company Bayanat is poised to announce a new partnership with the UAE Space Agency to develop a geospatial data
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Deceased foreign minister was at heart of East- West intelligence games
The Ukrainian intelligence services have their own definite opinion about what took the life of Belarus's foreign minister since 2012, Vladimir Makei, also a former intelligence officer, who died...
UAE/IRAN : National Iranian Oil Company's attempt to shrink $2.4bn Crescent Petroleum fine
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has suffered another setback in its dispute with the Sharjah-based oil company Crescent Petroleum.
UNITED KINGDOM : British FARA returns to National Security Bill
Initially designated as "countering state threats legislation", Britain's National Security Bill (NSB), which is on its way to the House of
France : Ministry of the Interior places consulting firm Noveane at heart of 2024 Olympics financial plan
The French Ministry of the Interior is currently experimenting with security technology to prepare for the 2024 summer Olympic Games
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Garda's alleged methods to land State ...tment security contract in Iraq challenged in court by SOC LLC
US private security firm SOC LLC launched legal action against former executives Billy Conner and David Johnson on 10 November.
BAHRAIN : From Royal Guard to Israeli cyber, Sheikh Nasser emerges as strategist of Bahrain's ambitions
The prince directing the Bahrain-UAE joint military exercise Jelmoud 3 on 10 November, Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa (more commonly known
UNITED STATES : Washington's private Cosmos Club: where CIA officials socialised and conducted confidential business
On Embassy Row in Washington, DC in a house built in the late 19th century for railroad and coal heiress
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN/UZBEKISTAN : EDF uses diplomacy and culture to gain ground in Central Asia
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official visit to Paris from 21 to 23 November gave French industry players a chance to
UAE/TURKEY : Turkish cyber provider Pavo Group goes door knocking in UAE
The defence electronics and cyber conglomerate Pavo Group is laying the groundwork for a base in the United Arab Emirates
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Bug bounty operators make beeline for Riyadh
Bug bounty firms from other parts of the globe attended the first Middle East and Africa Black Hat cybersecurity fair
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Lobbyists and investigators push for US sanctions against Kazakh ex-president Nazarbayev's circle
US consultant Joseph Szlavik, or Joseph Szlavik-Soto, head of the strategic consulting and lobbying firm Scribe Strategies & Advisors, intends to launch legal
RUSSIA : Private sector reaches out to Russia's future cryptography centre
The national technology centre for digital cryptography that Russia is planning to launch by the end of the year is
FRANCE/IRAQ : Dassault lets CMN and Couach test the water in Baghdad before pushing Rafales
French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation, headed by Eric Trappier, has decided to contact the new Iraqi government, headed since 27
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Military intelligence research firm BluePath Labs unwraps China's strategic ambitions
The US China Economic and Security Commission (USCC)'s report entitled "Personnel of the People's Liberation Army" and published earlier this
AUSTRALIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Ex-Suneris executive..., L3 Trenchant poaches from Qihoo, US Army launches AI project
Paris: Badaire and Barbier join startup Snowpack's advisory boardAccording to our sources, Pierre-Mayeul Badaire, a partner in the corporate intelligence firm Corexalys who
UNITED KINGDOM : UK Digital Defence Unit struggles to move forward
On 22 November, the departure of Executive Director of the Defence Digital Unit, Phil Jones, became official. The unit has
UAE/ISRAEL : Beacon Red's native OSINT platform draws Israeli firms
UAE-based parastatal Edge Group is in the process of selecting contractors to build its native open source intelligence (OSINT) platform. Intelligence Online understands that several companies ha...
CYPRUS : Former Cycura technology director Joel Eriksson launches zero-day firm ClevCode
While the Italian zero-day exploit broker Dataflow Security (Dfsec) continues to grow (IO, 27/10/22), Joel Eriksson, the Swedish former partner of Dfsec's Israeli chief Ofer Cohen in
UAE : Geospatial intelligence experts get organised in UAE
Earth observation satellite specialists are beating a path to the door of Abu Dhabi's part publicly owned defence conglomerate Edge Group,
UNITED KINGDOM : NGO CoJiT provides link between Amersi, Ian Maxwell and British Conservative MPs
MP Alexander Stafford, a rising star of the British Conservative party, has entered the parliamentary sphere of influence of businessman
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Quinlan turns to News... with Oriol, Boulègue at Audere, Kerley joins Evelyn Partners
Washington: Journalist-hungry Quinlan hires Newsweek reporter American investigative journalist Xander Landen has left Newsweek to join the US business intelligence
UNITED STATES/KUWAIT : Fake lawyer dupes Kuwaiti military attaché in Washington for years
On 10 November, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence filed a fraud lawsuit in the court of the Eastern District of
CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA : Despite change at the top, sparring continues at CSTO
Tension was in the air, particularly between Russia and Kazakhstan, at the Collective Security Treaty Organization's (CSTO) heads of state
CANADA/CHINA : CSIS under fire from Canadian parliament after stand-off between Trudeau and Xi Jinping
The clash between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau at the G20 summit in Bali on 15 November,
MOLDOVA : Moldova's anti-corruption drive buttressed by investigators and Western institutions
Faced with infiltration from Russia (IO, 18/05/21, 22/11/22) and following a third meeting on 21 November in Paris of the Moldova
UNITED STATES : The Nancy Pelosi staff-to-private-sector pipeline creates a cottage industry of Washington lobbyists
The 17 November announcement by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi that she would step down from the Democratic Party leadership in the House of Representatives following the US midterm elections was gre...
UKRAINE : Zelensky expands his war task force
A few days ago, Roman Mashovets, deputy to the influential head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak and a former
IRAQ : PM Mohammed al-Sudani reinstates Falcon Cell leader
On 20 November, Iran's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani appointed the former head of the secretive Falcon Intelligence Cell, Abdul
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Moscow plans to hold Donbass with conscripts and prisoners
Over recent weeks Russia has established mobile camps in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, just a few kilometres from the
CHINA/URUGUAY : With free trade talks under way, Huawei prepares its commercial offensive
In his eagerness to clinch a free trade deal, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou recently urged his foreign minister, Francisco Bustillo, to
FRANCE : Under Philippe Chose's lead, more staff set to switch from DGSE to DGSI
After intense negotiations, Pascal Chauve, the head of the French administrative interception service, the Groupement interministériel de contrôle (GIC), should
FRANCE/INDIA/PAKISTAN : French defence leaders keen to keep the ball rolling with India
As the 36th Dassault Rafale delivered to India in mid-November takes to the sky, France is already looking for the next major defence contract with New Delhi. Intelligence Online understands that...
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : UK's Labour taps into Sally Donnelly's powerful Washington network
Intelligence Online understands that the Pallas Foundation, run by Sally Donnelly and Anthony DeMartino, former US defence secretary Jim Mattis's
FRANCE/TURKMENISTAN : Led by Vinci, Bouygues and Thales, French industrial groups prepare to return to Ashgabat in force
Two months after a visit to Turkmenistan by Bouygues group chairman Martin Bouygues and Patrick Kadri, chief executive of Vinci
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Pentagon encouraged to study Beijing's supply lines
The annual report of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which was sent to Congress in mid-November, repeats
CHINA/FINLAND/FRANCE/IRAN/SWEDEN/SYRIA : New Iranian militi...ia, Chinese retiree recall, Finnish border, Swedish NSA, ANSSI
Iran/Syria: IRGC mobilises new militia against US interests in SyriaAccording to our sources, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGD)'s Quds
FRANCE/RUSSIA : France's Garriaud-Maylam travels bumpy road to NATO parliamentary assembly leadership
As Intelligence Online predicted in June (IO, 10/06/22), French right-wing Les Républicains (LR) party Senator Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam was elected to head
RUSSIA : Foreign ministry picks new Asia relations deputy
Career diplomat Andrey Rudenko is due to take over from Igor Morgulov, former deputy minister in charge of relations with
FRANCE : French security company Chiron builds on Ukraine operations to expand further abroad
Oaktree Security Services and Brit Alliance, both from the UK, have, according to our sources, recently sought out the French
FRANCE : Pascal Chauve poised to head French DGSI's technical department
According to Intelligence Online's sources, Pascal Chauve is to take over as head the technical department, or DT, of the French internal
EUROPE/CHECHNYA/UKRAINE : Divided Chechen diaspora redoubles efforts to woo Kyiv
Former Chechen minister and ex-general Akhmed Zakayev, now a political refugee in London, takes particular care to nurture his relations with Kyiv. On 27 November, the head of Chechnya's governme...
GERMANY/TURKMENISTAN : Goetzpartners to open doors for German industry in Turkmenistan once again
On 17 November, Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov played host to German consultants Stephan Goetz and Hans Gerd Prodoehl, who
UNITED STATES/POLAND/UKRAINE : Warsaw fights information war for Kyiv in North America
A number of bodies in Warsaw are already helping Ukraine to get across its message and meet its arms needs,
RUSSIA : Sergey Shishkarev keeps eye on Russian cargo while looking for new foreign investors
Head of Delo Group, Sergey Shishkarev is trying to establish lasting financial stability for his rapidly expanding logistics group. Though
HUNGARY : Sandor Pinter, the immovable warden of Hungarian intelligence
Though nearing retirement, Sandor Pinter is not ready to hand over the reins of Hungary's intelligence community just yet. The
UNITED STATES/OMAN : Washington turns to Oman to mediate in US hostage talks in Syria
While artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and strengthening Oman's intelligence service were identified as bilateral priorities at the last strategic dialogue session
AUSTRALIA : Teddy Picker's, the lavish Canberra cafe serving all day "brekky" loved by Australian spies
Undoubtedly one of Canberra's cosiest cafes, Teddy Picker's is also a must-see venue in the Australian capital, whether or not
UNITED STATES/IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : The Kurdistan Children's Hospital brings together Barzanis, Aliyevs and oil interests
Ankara's interests in Iraqi Kurdistan have been growing, especially during the latest Iraqi political crisis in Baghdad in which Turkey
UAE/ISRAEL : Israeli OSINT firm XYZ Elements woos UAE
The Israeli open source, or OSINT, specialist XYZ Elements is currently among the most prominent companies in the UAE, which
RUSSIA : Kremlin retakes control of the patriotic 'black' PR networks
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of private military group Wagner, and his ally, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, caused surprise in early November
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : The Brady case: France sways between two Indo-Pacific strategies
It was with a mission to France that New Zealand researcher Anne-Marie Brady rounded off her sabbatical year aimed at
SAUDI ARABIA : First economic diversification, now defence, MbS's trust in Nejd families grows
The great merchant families of the Middle East gathered in Dubai from 1 to 2 November for the private "From
ISRAEL : Israel's cyber-intelligence firm Paragon launches mass recruitment of CTI researchers
Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Paragon has been conducting a recruitment drive over the past few months for threat intelligence specialists to beef
SAUDI ARABIA/CHINA/UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ITALY : Hikvisi...oes solo, Intel 471 in Riyadh, Santagata steps down at Cy4gate
Paris/Beijing - Chinese monitoring giants launch fresh charm offensive.Chinese video monitoring companies Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co (Hikvision) and Zhejiang
UAE/UNITED STATES/INDIA/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Indian hack... war brings to surface role of Qatar and private investigators
The London Sunday Times investigation published on 5 November, which exposed a global hacking network working on behalf of Qatar through Swiss and Indian consultants, has, as Intelligence Online ...
FRANCE : French military consulting firm DCI's failed ISR ambitions return to haunt it in court case
The French military consulting firm Défense Conseil International (DCI) has been condemned to pay €100,000 to its former head of
UNITED STATES/PAKISTAN : Imran Khan employs ex-CIA agent to liaise with Washington
Imran Khan, who was prime minister from 2018 to 2022, was soon back under the spotlights after suffering an assassination
SAUDI ARABIA : MbS's reform of Saudi space sector homes in on Saudi Space Commission
In pursuit of his ambitions to boost Saudi Arabia's space sector, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) put his trusted communications
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Burton moves to Narde...n London, Kikkar debuts in asset recovery, Avisa expands in DC
New York/London - Jenna Burton switches from Raedas to Nardello.Investigator Jenna Burton, who had been working for British corporate intelligence
AZERBAIJAN : Baku's intelligence services keep watchful eye on Pasdaran in Nakhchivan enclave
Azerbaijan's DSX, its border guard service, and DTX, its intelligence service, issued a flurry of statements earlier this month condemning Iran's recent actions. The
FRANCE/SYRIA/TURKEY : Between asset freezes and support, Paris displays contradictory stance over Kurds
At a time when Turkey has accused the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, of carrying out the recent terrorist attack in
ARGENTINA/ISRAEL : Israel Aerospace Industries caught up in Argentinian anti-corruption probe
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, in early November the Argentine Anti-Corruption Office opened an investigation into a 2016
UNITED STATES : European far-right hired Beltway lobbyists to build US political ties
In its first foray into foreign lobbying, Logan Circle Group (LCG), the conservative Republican political consulting firm, has registered under the Foreign Agent Registration Act for its past rep...
SYRIA/TURKEY : Taksim Square blast makes Ankara ill at ease with its private fighters in northern Syria
Ankara finds itself in a very awkward position with the local fighters it has engaged in northern Syria, who are
FRANCE : Paris Olympic Games organisers plan anti-drone drill to dispel growing uncertainties
While French Minister Gérald Darmanin has pointed to drones as the main terrorist threat for large sporting events, according to
SOUTH KOREA/UAE : Abu Dhabi opens its arms to LIG Nex1's new satellite observation radars
South Korea's LIG Nex1 group, which is looking to develop synthetic-aperture radars (SAR) for satellites, was given a ceremonial welcome
RUSSIA : Brain drain stymies Moscow city council's security plans
Some €365m will be set aside for the operation and maintenance of Moscow's surveillance camera system, according to a new budget adopted at the start of November. That record amount bears witne...
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA : Moldovan intelligence ups its game in the face of Russian infiltration
Moldovia's security and intelligence service, the SIS (IO, 08/07/21) has boosted its operations over the last few weeks. Following the
SAUDI ARABIA : Yasir Al-Rumayyan uses Banque Saudi Fransi to extend his control over MbS's major development projects
Frenchman Saiyfe El Cosantini recently left his post as head of strategy delivery at the Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) financial
AUSTRALIA/CHINA : GRACosway lobbies for Chinese raw materials giants in Sydney
The Sydney-based Australian public affairs company GRACosway began representing Arrow Energy, a Brisbane-based coal gas company jointly owned by Shell and PetroChina, a subsidiary of
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : War in Ukraine puts Russia's Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch community under pressure
Rabbi Berel Lazar, head of the Russian Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, came out of a long period of silence
GERMANY : BND's new second in command Philipp Wolff provides fast track to Paris
Philipp Wolff has been appointed as new head of the German intelligence service BND's central administration (Vice President for Core
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Astana lobbyists in Washington adapt to new political landscape
Lobbyists working for Kazakhstan's justice ministry in Washington, and particularly Mercury Public Affairs, Greenberg Traurig and RJI Capital, kept a
FRANCE/HUNGARY/UNITED KINGDOM : Access to UK Special Forces... TurkStream under threat and spying on French pilots in China?
United Kingdom - Ben Wallace and the Defence Committee cross swords over parliamentary control of UK Special Forces.The UK parliament's
FRANCE : France seeks Qatar defence cooperation amid tensions
The start of the football World Cup in Qatar on November 20 has not distracted everyone's attention. In Paris, bosses
CHINA : NVWA Project goes silent as China "nationalises" cyber vulnerability tracking
In the Digital Defense Report it published on 4 November, Microsoft criticised China's system for notifying vulnerabilities, which, according to
CHINA : Xi Jinping's new politburo emerges from lengthy and secret selection procedure
Intelligence Online understands that for the first time in the history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the appointments of its new leaders, which were announced at the party congress at the...
UNITED STATES : Congress looks forward to more consensual government oversight
With the Republican Party gaining less ground than expected in the recent US midterm elections, the intelligence community should be
UNITED STATES : Alaco investigator retained to assist plain...mages for alleged sexual assault by fleeing Jordanian diplomat
Jessica Thorpe, a senior associate at corporate intelligence firm Alaco, who joined the firm last year, was hired to assist
BELGIUM : The Fraternelle des Agents Parachutistes, a venue steeped in history for Belgian commandos and NATO generals
The Fraternelle des agents parachutistes (FAP) is getting a makeover. Located at number 46 rue du Châtelain in the Brussels
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : MBS's hound hired by FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting's recent appointment of Majdi Al Madani to head the forensic and litigation division of its Riyadh office will surely
CHINA : Xi Jinping calls in Chen Yixin to tackle corruption... and potential opposition
On 30 October, spy chief Chen Yixin was appointed Minister of State Security (Guoanbu), making him the holder of the
IRAN : Basiji militia leads Pasdaran crackdown against popular uprising in Iran
Iran's Basiji militia, responsible for a large number of civilian casualties in Iran since the death of Masha Amini in September (IO, 17/10/22), is
KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : Kazakh government prospects Turkish cyber and space sectors
The Kazakh government is talking to the cyber and space industries in multiple countries, especially in Turkey, as it looks
FRANCE/PAKISTAN : French foreign trade advisers take tentative steps in Islamabad
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, the relaunch of the Pakistani branch of the French foreign trade advisers' body,
EUROPE : MEPs push for tighter cyber intelligence norms despite cooperation glitches
In its draft report presented on 8 November, the European Parliament's committee of inquiry into the Israeli spyware Pegasus, the
UNITED STATES : Long-delayed ruling in assassination and corruption case awaits new Iraqi PM
Having only taken office on 27 October, new Prime Minister Mohammed al-Soudani is inheriting a delicate US legal case against
CHINA/ITALY : China tests waters with Meloni's Italy
The Chinese embassy in Rome is mobilising its contacts in the Italian capital to find out why letters of congratulation
UNITED KINGDOM : New Cyber-focused Private Equity firm Gallos Technologies seconded by Security establishment
Previously with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which covers the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, or MI6), Joshua Burch
UAE/FRANCE : Former French foreign affairs minister Le Drian makes not so unofficial visit to Abu Dhabi
The third Entretiens d'Abu Dhabi, an event billed as "an open exchange bringing France and UAE together through this dialogue",
BANGLADESH/CHINA : Chinese oil firms make headway in Bangladesh, one strategic step at a time
In late October, China's ambassador to Bangladesh, Li Jiming, declared that Beijing was ready to provide help to the country
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/TURKEY : Cognyte intercepts 5G, Wagner joins Raytheon, Barikat bought out
Herzliya: Cognyte puts IMSI-catchers in 5GThe Israeli company Cognyte, a cyberoffensive spin-off of the Israeli defence firm Verint, filed a
EUROPE : Defence companies position themselves for new European cyber situational awareness platform
European defence giants are gearing up for a new project unveiled by the European Commission's Cyber Coordination Task Force on 14 October to build a new European Cyber Situation and Analysis Cen...
FRANCE : French intelligence increasingly mobilised against cults
The yearly report of French interministerial anti-sect mission MIVILUDES (Mission Interministérielle de Vigilance et de Lutte contre les Dérives Sectaires),
UAE/TURKEY/UNITED KINGDOM : Former diplomat Mehmet Ogutcu looks to export his London business club to Abu Dhabi and beyond
The London Energy Club is listed on British business registers as having been wound up. It has resumed and started
AUSTRIA : Under pressure, Austrian cybersecurity firm DSIRF overhauls management
Shaken by the publication of a preliminary report from the European parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Israel's Pegasus and other spyware
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/TURKEY/UNITED KINGDOM : Spottiswoode g...es ex-BACB, Sanction Scanner in US and Chiron head writes book
London - Jocelyn Spottiswoode poached by FTI.Jocelyn Spottiswoode, an expert on the former Soviet Union, is joining FTI Consulting's London
GERMANY/SWITZERLAND : Sport big data giant Sportradar, private investigator for Germany's antidoping watchdog
On 14 October, German antidoping agency Nationale Anti Doping Agentur (NADA) renewed its trust in Swiss company Sportradar, which has provided
IRAQ : Militias aim for top intelligence seat after Sudani approved as PM
Self-appointed interim director of the highly strategic Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) on 5 November, the new Iraqi Prime Minister
BELARUS : Belarus opposition in Warsaw disavowed by Kyiv
Ex-paratrooper and construction businessman Valeri Sakhashik has been putting out fires since his appointment as shadow defence minister in Belarusian
GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Saudi Arabia's Neom megaproject draws greater interest in Berlin than Paris
At Discover Neom, an event organised by the Dubai-based PR firm Richard Attias & Associates, led by Richard Attias, in Berlin on 2 November, Nadhmi al-Nasr, the CEO of the company behind the Saud...
UKRAINE/BELARUS : US army veteran Matthew Parker hired to shore up Ukraine's northern flank
Matthew Parker, who heads the Maryland-based Independent Security Advisors (IO, 16/09/22), has topped Russia's "kill/capture" list for the fifth month
RUSSIA : Boosted by Kremlin, telecoms regulator Roskomnadzor steps up surveillance projects
Initiatives to deploy the "sovereign runet", a term that refers to Russia's domestic internet structure, have recently picked up speed.
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Chechen opposition scores points with Kyiv from Paris
Jambulat Suleymanov, president of the Bart-Marsho association in Paris, plans to host a Chechen congress on 25 and 26 November.
KAZAKHSTAN : KazEngineering courts international investors as it launches privatisation drive
As Kazakhstan Engineering (KazEngineering) prepares to privatise several of its companies, Intelligence Online has been able to consult the list
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Khaled Azzam, King Charles' f...Middle Eastern architect, now spearheading MBS's mega-projects
Keen to pick up the pace of Saudi Arabia's mega-projects, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, (MBS), Saudi Arabia's prime minister, has recently expanded Egyptian architect Khaled Azzam's missions ...
SINGAPORE/TURKEY : Ikon, the new face of Turkish-Singaporean interception software specialist BTT
On the eve of the 'retirement' of its fortysomething software research and development chief Alper Tosun, a new entity has absorbed
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/FRANCE : French economy and finance minister delays Gulf trip
As Intelligence Online revealed, France's minister of economy and finance, Bruno Le Maire had made plans to visit several Gulf
FRANCE : French intelligence services foreign cooperation: the government and parliament are planning new laws
The DPR's (Délégation parlementaire au renseignement) end of October report has put particular focus on the management of exchanges with
CHINA/TAIWAN : China's phantom police station in Paris keeps watch on Taiwanese
Assigned to support - and monitor - the Chinese community in Paris, the phantom police station in Paris's southern 13th
UNITED STATES : Glencore, US Justice Department and Swiss authorities enter final talks over compliance monitor
According to our information, the commodities trading giant Glencore and the US government are still negotiating with the Swiss authorities
ALBANIA/FRANCE/ISRAEL/RUSSIA : French DGSI's new hiring cel...s Albanian cyber, New York jet-setter wins case against Moscow
France - DGSI's new recruitment cell.Intelligence Online understands that the French domestic intelligence service, the DGSI, is adding the finishing
RUSSIA : Russia's digital development minister caught in power struggle between Kremlin rivals
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin replaced two deputy ministers for digital development on 7 November, shortcutting the powers of the competent
UAE : Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre steers third SAR satellite project
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai is busy developing a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. The
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Ukrainian cunni...d French drones were key to successful Sevastopol naval attack
According to information obtained by Intelligence Online, the 29 October attack on the Russian ships stationed in Sevastopol was prepared well in advance and illustrates Ukraine's capacity for in...
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : London and Washington grow ever closer in hunt for oligarchs
The British government recently dispatched a Serious and Organised Crime network representative to join the British embassy in Washington as
ISRAEL/TURKEY : Behind the new deal between Turkey's MIT and the Mossad
During an official visit to Ankara on 27 October, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Hakar
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman lead the charge against sanctions
The High Court of Justice in London's ruling of 19 October on the assets of Russian businessman and British resident
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Riyadh looks for US support for its Al-Ula tourism project
The Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCA), which has been given the task of making the ancient Nabataean site of Al-Ula
CHINA/UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Businessman Neville Roy Singham quietly sponsors an initiative opposing US assistance to Kyiv
"The Real Path to Peace in Ukraine (Negotiations - Yes! Escalation - No!)", a conference that will take place on
RUSSIA : The Imperial Tailoring Co., Putin's bespoke tailor
Though tailor Sammy Kotwani keeps very tight-lipped about his customers' preferences when it comes to their suits, tuxedos and coats,
BELARUS : Alexander Azarov, spymaster of the Belarusian dissidence in exile
Since August, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Azarov has been both minister of the interior and spymaster. But not for an internationally
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : French amphibious boat b...ana Yachts eyes Middle Eastern market on heels of US army deal
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, Iguana Yachts's defence branch Iguana Pro is about to win a new contract
GERMANY : Bernhard Pawlak brings Israeli cyber to Germany
The US forensics specialist Grayshift, in full international-expansion mode, has turned to Bernhard Pawlak to help it break into the
UNITED STATES : Succession crisis at K2 Integrity is straight out of 'Succession'
Sources tell Intelligence Online that patriarch, legend and Executive Chair Jules Kroll, who is 81, would like to retire. He
UKRAINE/BELARUS : How Kyiv dismantled Belarusian volunteer militia Pagonia
President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree to strip Belarusian reservist paratrooper lieutenant colonel Valeri Sakhashik and other former military personnel
UNITED STATES/LUXEMBOURG : Bowed by OneCoin fraud case, Sandstone shuts down
Sandstone investigation firm, which ruled for more than a decade over Luxembourg's business intelligence world, has been left with no
FRANCE/IRAQ : TotalEnergies optimistic about its $27bn contract after the arrival of new prime minister Sudani
TotalEnergies is currently recruiting hard, according to our information, for technical personnel for its projects in Iraq, most of which
TURKEY : Interdata moves into interception market thanks to discreet RedEye acquisition
The integrator Interdata, which until now has mainly been used in cyber and defence electronics conglomerate Pavo Group's data centres,
FRANCE/ITALY/UKRAINE : NCSCC trains Ukrainians in OSINT, Dataflow poaches Margaritelli, Owlint joins GICAT
Kyiv: NCSCC takes over OSINT training for Ukrainian officialsOn 26 October, the Ukrainian Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCSCC), a branch of
BANGLADESH : Technical intelligence service faces shrinking cyber offer
Bangladesh's technical intelligence service, the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), is looking for a contractor for its vast Integrated Lawful Interception System (ILIS) project...
UNITED STATES : Congress and US intelligence community see two sides of advertising cookies
A report from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on 31 October, proposing amendments to the Intelligence Authorization Act
Ukraine/United Kingdom : Highgate revives its Ukrainian networks for Wagner prosecution case
Behind the resounding announcement on 1 November in the British House of Commons of the legal action brought against the
UNITED KINGDOM : Door slammed on SLAPP filed against G3 by a former surveillance target
On 27 October, a London court dismissed the complaint against corporate intelligence firm Good Governance Group, G3, filed by the
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : BDO, Ed Vaizey advise...ermind, Williamson at Control Risks, Treliant back in the game
New York: BDO's forensics boss dismissedTimothy Mohr, head of the US forensics practice at German consultancy BDO, has abruptly left
ARMENIA : Armenia plans security apparatus overhaul under watchful eyes of neighbours
Addressing parliament during a session dedicated to the national budget on 2 November, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the country's
POLAND : Poland's external intelligence service to ease training and recruitment restrictions
The Polish government is actively looking to strengthen the country's external intelligence service, the Agencja Wywiadu (AW), which is closely involved in
ARGENTINA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Chinese activism sparks US action over Argentine fighter jet acquisitions
Argentina's new Minister of Economy Sergio Massa will be sending a delegation to Denmark in the coming weeks to discuss
ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Israel's Cyberglobes is SBU's new OSINT supplier
According to our sources, Israeli open source intelligence, or OSINT, firm Cyberglobes recently landed a contract to supply a platform
UNITED STATES : Claremont Institute fellow and 'Twitter pug...sed of being an undisclosed lobbyist for anti-Qatari interests
David Reaboi, a senior fellow at the right-wing Claremont Institute and highly active on Twitter, is a fierce critic of foreign influence peddling, especially when it comes to Qatar. He regularly...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Gallant Knights ready to supply Kyiv with special forces training
Nathan White-Wilson is still waiting for the final touches on the contract that should bind his private security and intelligence
UNITED STATES : As midterms loom, Washington tackles political tensions around intelligence community
In response to concerns about the politicisation of US intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence amended the draft Intelligence Authorization Act 2023
CHINA : Xi Jinping puts favourite Li Xi in charge of new anti-corruption offensive
Chinese official Li Xi's close relationship with President Xi Jinping and his family was not the only reason he was
GERMANY/GREECE : Andreas Mitsis plays go-between for Greek military and German arms industry
Behind German chancellor Olaf Scholz's recent outburst against Ankara, negotiations for a land-based military contract between Greece and Germany also
RUSSIA : Rostec emerges top dog as Moscow elite jostle for positions
At the end of October, the state-owned defence contractor Rostec's unofficial lobbyist in the Duma, ruling United Russia MP Vladimir
PAKISTAN : Credence Security expands foothold in forensics tech-hungry Pakistan
The Pakistani government has been pouring money into programmes to strengthen the forensics capacities of its law enforcement. On 28
SAUDI ARABIA : MBS narrows targets of his anti-corruption drive
As Intelligence Online revealed on 28 October (IO, 28/10/22), the Saudi authorities are trying, via Interpol, to get their hands on Salah Fustok, a former commercial agent for King Abdullah bin A...
GERMANY : Despite controversies, private security firm Asgaard pursues international development
Despite a German court convicting two of its former staff on 24 October for trying to train a "100-150 strong
HONG KONG : How Beijing is 'continentalising' Hong Kong through graduate visa programs
Intelligence Online understands that Eric Chan, first secretary of the executive in charge of the "Thousand Talents" operation and head
GERMANY : New Berlin Advisors Group has Kurdish connections
The German business diplomacy firm Berlin Global Advisors (BGA) has teamed up with three other firms in the federal capital -
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE/GEORGIA/PALESTINE/R...archs, France's DPR, China worries Russia, repatriated Afghans
United States: CIA experimenting to solve HR crisisThe House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's 31 October report amending the Intelligence
FRANCE : Here, there and everywhere: National Strategic Review wants intelligence services on all fronts
With only a few days to go before it is presented to President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, the National Strategic
LEBANON : Spymaster Abbas Ibrahim keeps networks active during power vacuum
When Lebanon's former President Michel Aoun left office on 31 October without a replacement nor even a formed government, he
UAE : After Digital14, Elham Al Qasim takes charge of GEOINT specialist Bayanat's IPO
Elham Al Qasim has once again been tasked with restructuring one of Group 42's (G42) Emirati intelligence stars, with her
Middle East/United States : Washington takes steps to encourage lasting security cooperation in Middle East
The US 2022 National Defense Strategy, published on 27 October, illustrates the efforts the Department of Defense (DoD) is intending to put into the establishment of regional security coalitions ...
UKRAINE : Kyiv tries to stop Moscow benefiting from indirect IT support from the GAFAM
The working group headed by Ukrainian presidential office secretary Andrii Yermak (IO, 01/11/22) and former US diplomat Michael McFaul has
SPAIN : Contested new boss Esperanza Casteleiro reviews CNI priorities
Former defence minister Esperanza Casteleiro has been given a tricky assignment. In May, she was appointed head of the Centro
FRANCE : French parliament mulls over government's capacity for strategic anticipation
Following French authorities' failure to foresee the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, work is underway in the parliament to improve
UNITED STATES : Afghan debacle turns into financial difficulties for US armed security giants
Although several European and Canadian security firms have managed to keep operating under the radar in Afghanistan on behalf of
BANGLADESH/CHINA : China plays lead role in Bangladesh's plans to develop its navy and port infrastructure
The Chinese group PTI, which is currently building the BNS Sheikh Hasina submarine base in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, will
LEBANON : TotalEnergies pivotal in Beirut-Tel Aviv maritime deal
Laurent Vivier, Middle East and North Africa director for TotalEnergies's exploration and production division, has been shuttling between Paris and
RUSSIA : Siloviki eye facial recognition as potential windfall in their search for funds
In a bid to prevent its budget from being cut as a result of the war in Ukraine (IO, 12/09/22
ITALY : Carabinieri to take delivery of an OSINT platform from DeepCyber
The Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale (ROS), a special service operated by the Rome Carabinieri, has asked Italian firm DeepCyber to develop
UAE/IRAN : Al Ustad Special Kabab, an Iranian hang-out officially approved by Dubai's crown prince
A few paces from Bank Melli and Bank Saderat, the two Iranian public banks still operating in Dubai despite US
AFGHANISTAN/SAUDI ARABIA/PAKISTAN : Saudi spymaster Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan mediates between Islamabad and Kabul
According to our sources, Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan, the head of Saudi Arabia's intelligence service, the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP - IO, 10/10/22),
RUSSIA/VIETNAM/UNITED KINGDOM : Russian-Vietnamese firm Sovico at centre of PCV anti-corruption storm
Oxford University has been excitedly waiting to receive a gift of £155m (€180m) from Vietnamese businesswoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao,
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Beijing takes action behind the scenes for control of Ushuaia naval base
According to our information, thanks to mediation by Shuiping Tu, a loyal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official based in Argentina
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ISRAEL : EC launches hybrid wa...oorn, Plath appoints lobbyists, Carbyne's advisory board slims
Brussels - European Commission orders hybrid warfare centre in response to Russian threatThe European Commission's Cyber Coordination Task Force launched a
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Soriano and Psy-Group, revealed during RussiaGate, team up again
On 27 October, British-Israeli consultant Walter Soriano's intelligence group USG Security announced the launch of a compliance offering for banks
GERMANY/UAE : Veterans of Germany's defunct cyber firm FinFisher pursue new avenues
Georg Magg, the ex-CEO of the defunct German cyber-intelligence firm Finfisher, has recently been appointed to head up the new
FRANCE : Paris Olympics security tech programmes start with a stutter
With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching fast, there are still many details to be worked out for the security technology for the event. The start-ups selected to cover these by the French Ministr...
BELGIUM/ISRAEL : Interionet adds another Israeli stamp to Belgium's I-Police programme
The Israeli cyber intelligence firm Interionet has won a contract with the Belgian police's modernisation project, I-Police. The €299m project,
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Amarante in the south of Fra... money, McRoberts back to Veracity, 5 Stones expands to SIGINT
New York: Kroll waiting for Smerling fraud moneyBusiness intelligence group Kroll is still waiting for money from James Feltman, who
Belarus : Belarus intelligence spreads fog of war over defectors and prisoners
The Alexander Lukashenko regime has, according to our sources, taken an unprecedented pro-Russian stance. Evidence of this can be seen
UNITED STATES : Key corporate intelligence players in Russiagate affair are prospering from their notoriety
On 17 October, former Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) officer turned investigator Christopher Steele, director and joint founder of
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : French consultants steer Saudi Arabia's Scopa Industries
With a view to speeding up the launch of a sovereign defence industry in Saudi Arabia (IO, 01/11/22), Intelligence Online's
SERBIA : Beijing Global Safety takes control of Serbia's emergency services thanks to Chinese and EU funding
Following an official announcement by Beijing in September that it was donating €25.6m to Belgrade to set up a single
AZERBAIJAN : Baku counts on its preferred mobile operator to control Nagorno-Karabakh's telecoms
Connections between communications networks, which are a necessary part of urban reconstruction efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh, are getting particular attention from
UNITED STATES : Role of US private military contractors expanding sharply in Ukraine
According to our sources, The Mozart Group, which began as a volunteer organisation operating solely in Ukraine, is now planning to become a conventional for-profit private military contractor (P...
FRANCE/ISRAEL : Tracfin seeks cooperation with counterpart IMPA to crackdown on bi-national financial crimes
Two important parties met on 20 October in Paris to sign a memorandum of understanding between the French financial intelligence
RUSSIA : Kremlin puts its think tank in media spotlight
Changes to the charter of the Russian Institute of Strategic Research (RISI) enshrined in a presidential decree on 20 October aim
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : All eyes on Orano at Paris celebration of Kazakhstan's Republic Day
Kazakhstan's Republic Day was celebrated in Astana 25 October with great pomp and circumstance. The night before, in Paris, the
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan's Butterfly Effect aims to get into the Gulf via partnerships with UAE's state-owned cyber groups
Butterfly Effect, a Kazdream technology group (IO, 02/09/22) spin-off specialising in telephone interceptions and open-source intelligence (OSINT), is in the
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : New Saudi defence industry champion Scopa Industries puts its money on France
Scopa Industries, the recently-launched private Saudi defence company, owned by the Ajlan & Brothers Holding Group (ABHG) directed a major charm offensive at the French defence industry at the Eu...
ISRAEL/EUROPEAN UNION : ActiveFence's ex-Unit 8200 counter-disinformation specialists eye EU contracts
According to Intelligence Online's sources, Israel's ActiveFence made moves to pitch its anti-fake news software to the European External Action Service's East StratCom
UKRAINE : Zelensky's right-hand men, the architects of Kyiv's reconstruction plans
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently called for urgent fundraising - $17m through the Ukraine Recovery Fund, notably for damaged
UAE/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Israeli warzone consultant takes on peers over US Somalia contract
Tel Aviv-based company R.S. Logistical Solutions (RSLS) in mid-October demanded Bancroft Global Development and its subsidiaries to disclose documents about
FRANCE : DRSD positions itself as French defence big data technology hub
In his 19 October report on French defence financial previsions, MP Jean-Charles Larsonneur, of the centre-right Horizons political party, provides news on
JAPAN : Japan counts on Sasakawa Foundation to secure its place in US and European plans
Japan's embassies abroad have recently received instructions from the Japanese foreign ministry to influence other country's appreciation of Japan's strategic
BAHRAIN/FRANCE/ISRAEL/LITHUANIA/SYRIA/OMAN : DGSE's green g...between Sultans, Lithuanian sanctions, Syrian airspace jitters
France - DGSE goes green to justify pricey new head office. To soften the blow of the price tag on
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : France's Azur Drones to supply MBS's Saudi Arabian major projects
France's Azur Drones, a small company based near Bordeaux, will deliver several Skeyetech autonomous surveillance drones to Saudi Arabia in the coming
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : US private investigators home in on ex-president Nazarbayev's brother
Scribe Strategies & Advisors partner Joseph Szlavik, aka Joseph Szlavik-Soto, made a series of trips to Europe in mid-October, including
UAE/SINGAPORE : UAE cyber champions set up shop in Singapore
Emirati cybersecurity chief Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti travelled to Singapore during Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW), which took place from 18
CHINA : New Central Military Commission brings expertise on Taiwan
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s new Central Military Commission (CMC), set up on 23 October, confirms President Xi Jinping's short term goal to reinforce the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s ...
IRAN/RUSSIA : Iran and Russia finalise fresh drone deal
According to information obtained by Intelligence Online, Russia and Iran are poised to sign a deal for 200 drones in the
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : James Glassman coordinates anti-Russian influence campaign for Ukraine oligarch Akhmetov
Russia Theft Watch (RussiaTheftReport.com) reports on the destruction and pillage of Ukraine's cultural heritage in its 12 October edition. Before that,
JORDAN : Ahmed Husni: From counter-terrorism to reinventing the GID
Tackling drug trafficking and corruption, overseeing technological modernisation, dealing with royal disputes: Spymaster Ahmed Husni has not been short of work since
UNITED KINGDOM : Convex brings on ex-Chief-of-Staff Nick Carter, to strengthen position in K&R market
Nick Carter, ex-Chief of Defence Staff who became a consultant last year, has just become a strategic adviser on risk
UNITED KINGDOM : In & Out Naval and Military Club perpetuates the tradition for the new generation
The iconic facade of the building at 4 Saint James Square in London makes it clear that the In &
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/UKRAINE : Allies split over post-war plan for Ukraine
The forward-planning departments of NATO states' intelligence services are struggling to decide which of various scenarios to support for Ukraine
ISRAEL : Indictment of Cellcom network spy sheds light on five-year secret probe by Shin Bet
Israel's Shin Bet last week announced the capture of a spy working for Hamas at Cellcom, a major mobile phone
SAUDI ARABIA : Mohammed bin Salman hunts Abdullah's military equipment broker
Intelligence Online has learnt that Saudi authorities have issued a warrant to international police organisation Interpol over the past few
SAUDI ARABIA : Hani al-Hussaini's little cyber empire prospers as a supplier to Saudi Arabia's security services
Small IT services group Ejada, which is currently recruiting new specialist staff, is increasingly getting involved in big data processing
UNITED KINGDOM : UK parliament calls on MI6, MI5 and GCHQ to play role in preventing atrocities
"From Srebrenica to a Safer Tomorrow: Preventing Future Mass Atrocities around the World", a UK parliamentary report published on 11 October,
KAZAKHSTAN : International partners eye Kazakh defence industry privatisations
The sale of parts of Kazakhstan's military-industrial complex is under public and political discussion again in Astana. Five units that
FRANCE : French ministries battle for influence over online counterinterference effort
The coordination between the French foreign affairs ministry and the ministry of the armed forces on strategic communication (stratcom, IO,
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : MAG lobbies Washington, EU chooses cyber crisis gurus, Grayshift loses cofounder
Fairfax/Washington: MAG Aerospace lobbyists deploy to Senate US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) specialist MAG Aerospace has since October been represented
RUSSIA : Russian firm Operation Zero braves Ukraine war to launch into zero day market
Emerging Russian unreferenced vulnerability, so-called zero day, reseller Operation Zero (IO, 20/10/22) is already offering rewards equal to or higher than those offered by market leader Zerodium...
UNITED STATES/ITALY : Dataflow Security sets up new forensics company in New York
Luca Todesco, who heads Italian vulnerabilities tracker Dataflow Security, took advantage of the presentation he made at the Hexacon cyber
CAMBODIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Foreign powers curry favour with prime minister Hun Sen's progeny
The courtesy visit paid by senior Vietnamese Communist Party official Vo Van Thuong to Hun Manet, the son of prime
UNITED STATES : Risk Advisory hit by sackings and resignations, but also boasts new hires
The hiring last month of investigations veteran Patrick Kelkar as Managing Director of Americas forThe Risk Advisory Group (TRAG) (IO,
RUSSIA : Russian establishment divided as status-quo faction emerges
Former Russian prime minister and ex-FSB chief Sergey Stepashin's declarations to state media RIA Novosti on 13 October that Vladimir
SYRIA/TURKEY : Turkish intelligence plays ambiguous game in north-west Syria
Turkey's MIT intelligence service is playing a finely balanced game in north-west Syria after the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group,
CHINA : Beyond Taiwan headlines, China lays ground for more regional conflicts
While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) made it known during its congress last week that it intends to raise military
SERBIA : Rio Tinto is relying on its connections to get its way on Serbian lithium mining project
Anglo-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto is looking for a strategic communications adviser to help it in the political and media
ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Israeli OSINT firm Espy keeps foot in Ukraine thanks to Cyberio
The Ukrainian government is getting increasingly impatient about Israel's refusal to supply it with military materiel and the Israeli cyber
UNITED STATES : Legal battle draws hackers-for-hire and private investigators out of the woodwork
The former broker Farhad Azima filed a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) lawsuit against the law firm Dechert and its former partner Neil Gerrard before the US district co...
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Audere, Wallbrook, ESL & Network
London - New managing director joins upbeat Audere.Corporate intelligence firm Audere International's 2021 accounts published earlier this month showed its total assets
UNITED STATES : Dem-turned-Trumpista Tulsi Gabbard using political cash from Modi, Putin fans
In mid-October, former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced she was leaving the Democratic Party, saying it was "under the complete
ISRAEL/MALAYSIA : How the Mossad outsources covert operations to its Malaysian agents
As Intelligence Online has learned, the failed Mossad operation (IO, 13/10/22), on 28 September in Kuala Lumpur, was carried out by
CHINA : Zhi Gong party called on to play expanding role in growth of Chinese influence
A meeting between Xi Jinping and a very select group of Chinese leaders that took place on 14 October, a
Russia : Russian spy to participate in UN roundtables on fighting organised crime
On 6 October, Moscow made its final choice on the delegates who will sit on international events, working groups and
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Kyiv disenchanted with US satellite providers
What the media exposure of Elon Musk's verbal spat with Ukrainian authorities largely failed to bring to light was that
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh opposition conducts Washington influence campaigns before elections
Democratic US Senators Dick Durbin, Bob Menendez, Ben Cardin and Sherrod Brown published an open letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 6 October calling for an international investigatio...
UNITED STATES : Spire exploits third party data for its Dynamic AIS system
Spire Global, which announced the launch of new satellites on 12 October in partnership with Britain's Virgin Orbit, does not only
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Moscow sharpens its strategy as energy war looms
Security officials at the highest level of the Russian state are considering carrying out clandestine attacks on European energy infrastructure such as gas and oil pipelines, oil tankers, termina...
CHINA/FRANCE : Detekt'in helps Chinese firm Nuctech enter French market
The planned installation of scanners produced by China's Nuctech group at Strasbourg Airport caused a considerable stir among European Parliament
Russia : New FSB special forces chief takes charge
The FSB's Special Operations Centre (TsSN) has a new chief, Alexander Bondarenko. The 56-year-old is a veteran of the special
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Pangea Group gauges mood in Israel for US State Department
The US State Department has chosen John Hyp, a former intelligence officer at the Office of the Director of National
CHINA : Beijing puts its foreign influence spreaders on display
On 16 October, the national congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ushered in Xi Jinping's third term with the
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Russian-Belarusian deception a partial success
A deception operation launched last week to suggest that Belarus was entering the war in Ukraine failed from the start.
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/SERBIA/UNITED KINGDOM : CI...ospatial intel, Russian control centre in Ukraine, Serbian BIA
United States/Afghanistan - Islamabad and Doha aid CIA-Taliban meeting. As we understand, the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence director Nadeem Ahmad Anjum
UAE/UNITED STATES/INDIA : Indo-Emirati Next Orbit Ventures at centre of Indian semiconductor battle
Next Orbit Ventures, based in Dubai and Mumbai, is going for broke. The venture capital firm is part of ISMC, the
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Russian intelligence 'defectors' pose a problem for Western counter-intelligence
Two Russians with very particular backgrounds recently arrived in France, where they have been inundated with requests from the media to detail their experiences. The first, "Maria", claims, acco...
France/Italy : Cyber offence specialist Cy4gate reinforces its presence in France by buying Diateam
Italian cyber intelligence group Cy4gate is set to announce the takeover of French cyber security company Diateam, further strengthening its
FRANCE/ISRAEL/CHAD : NSO's man in Chad, Abdellatif Ramadan, scouts for new French contacts
With Israel tightening its control over exports of dual-use goods, Israeli cyber-intelligence companies are turning away from Africa, forcing local
UNITED STATES/UZBEKISTAN : Joseph Quinn Martin, former Tashkent PR who became a champion of Washington business relations
Used to shuttling between the United States and Central Asia, American businessman and consultant Joseph Quinn Martin will fly to
UNITED STATES/ROMANIA : Romanian media magnate leads anti-corruption crusade in US
Romanian media magnate Bobby Paunescu, whose full name is George Marius Paunescu, continues his lobbying crusade in the US. He
CHINA : Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' bar makes for Politburo observation box
If you're lucky enough to find a taxi driver who can take you to 5 Jianguomennei Street in Beijing, you'll
UNITED STATES : Avril Haines, an atypical professional, steers US intelligence transformation
Avril Haines, the US's first woman Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has made employee diversity a priority of the intelligence community,
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Amar Zahid involved in case after case between US and Iraqi telecom industry
The case between Iraqi Amar Zahid, head of Luxembourg-based firm Alfa Consult and US intelligence technology provider TIC International in
UNITED STATES : Benchmark Mineral feeds US intel in rare earths face-off with China
Eager to shift towards economic-related intelligence on China, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has begun to receive data from Benchmark
YEMEN : Houthis brainstorm new tactics as ceasefire ends
With help from their sponsor Iran, Yemen's Houthi rebels have been mobilising their troops now that the truce held since
FRANCE/INDONESIA/QATAR : Qatar's French Mirage head for Jakarta
According to our sources, before flying to Washington to negotiate an order of F-15 fighter planes (IO, 18/10/22), Indonesia's defence
France/Germany/UAE : France counts on Almheiri to help it overcome German competition in hydrogen sector
Emirati climate change and environment minister Mariam Almheiri has been chosen by Paris to advance France's influence in the UAE and,
AUSTRALIA/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : FiveCast and Operation Zero
Adelaide/London: Titmuss and Patterson join OSINT expert FiveCastFormer UK National Crime Agency (NCA) operative Maggie Titmuss has recently joined Australian
QATAR : Former Indian cyber privateer Rajat Khare is helping Qatar keep the football World Cup safe
As it finalises its preparation for the FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Doha from 20 November to 18 December, Qatar owes a great deal to Rajat Khare, the former heading of Indian cyber i...
KAZAKHSTAN : Nazarbayev's former allies fear investigations as elections loom
A number of Kazakh officials, under investigation from the country's internal intelligence service, the KNB, following the popular uprisings in
UNITED KINGDOM : Alaco restructures after takeover, Quinlan, Silverbridge, new Africa-focused London firm
London - New London-based firm focuses on South Africa.Theodore Stainer has just set up a new company called Anglo African
UNITED STATES/EUROPEAN UNION : Western and emerging powers battle over mercenary control at the UN
European Union countries and the United States are seeking to overhaul the United Nations (UN) working group on the use
France/Russia : Franco-Russian friendship advocate Andrey Kozitsyn wages crusade against sanctions
Russian entrepreneur Andrey Kozitsyn has assembled a large legal team to help him challenge sanctions imposed on him on 27
EUROPE/UKRAINE : Europe's Ukraine anti-corruption drive loses steam
The European Union has decided to cancel the procurement procedure meant to renew a contract for an anti-corruption database programme
ISRAEL/PALESTINE : Majed Faraj's Preventive Security loses authority in West Bank
The current tensions in the West Bank, the worst in recent years, particularly in Nablus and East Jerusalem, prompted Israeli
UAE : Al-Qassimi fund Marjan struggles to make headway on its big projects in Ras Al Khaïmah
Expansion work at Ras Al Khaima (RAK) International Airport, which was geared to increase annual passenger numbers to more than
UAE/FINLAND : Finland's Bittium behind Edge's new Katim secure phone
Unveiled last week at the International Exhibition of National Security and Resilience (ISNR) in Abu Dhabi, Edge Group's Katim X-2 secure telephone, which
UNITED STATES : Leaked investor pitch deck reveals politica...unding, an informal extension of pro-Trump Claremont Institute
The California-based Claremont Institute, which emerged as the most influential right-wing think tank of the Trump era, is continuing to thrive during Joe Biden's presidency and is solidifying it...
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Actum promotes Turkish economic interests in US
The Turkey-US Business Council (TAIK) has parted ways with its long-standing US PR partner Mercury Public Affairs (IO, 30/03/22), switching on 5
RUSSIA : Vladimir Selin: the FSB's man in charge of protecting state secrets
Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his confidence in Vladimir Selin on 7 October, maintaining him at the head of the
CHINA : Xi's network of foreign police stations expands in Europe
The success of Fuzhou Overseas, a Chinese network of more than twenty undercover police stations established in 2018 under President Xi Jinping, led
UNITED STATES/TURKMENISTAN : Lobbyist Eric Stewart reopens the door to Ashgabat for US industry
A US business delegation is scheduled to go to Turkmenistan in early December for a visit organised by lobbyist Eric
UNITED STATES/INDONESIA : Indonesian defence minister visits Washington to finalise F-15 purchase
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto is currently in Washington, according to our sources. He is due to meet CIA director
EUROPE : Belgian cyber command takes shape
Slightly behind its European neighbours, Belgium's SGRS (Service Général du Renseignement et de la Sécurité), the GISS, will inaugurate the
UNITED STATES : The talented Mr. Peftiev: a longtime Lukashenko ally, former arms supplier to rogue clients - and a CIA asset
At a time when Alexander Lukashenko is mobilising troops to support the Russian offensive in Ukraine, his former arms czar Vladimir Peftiev is still struggling to avoid sanctions. As Intelligence...
FRANCE : Greenpeace strengthens investigations division with corporate intelligence hiring
In recruiting Julia Skalova last month, the French branch of Greenpeace is continuing the organisation's trend of professionalising its investigations.
UNITED STATES : Private contractors flock to new Pentagon guerrilla warfare study centre
The Pentagon has chosen counterterrorism specialist Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, also a senior advisor on asymmetric warfare at the Foundation for Defense
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Moscow's new high command embarks on three-stage scorched earth offensive
It was at a meeting of the Russian security council on 10 October that the details of Russia's new offensive
UNITED KINGDOM : UK parliament awaits new NSA Tim Barrow and reform of National Security Council
The UK's newly appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) Tim Barrow is, according to our sources, eagerly awaited in Westminster early
CHINA/CZECH REPUBLIC/TAIWAN : Taiwan's war of influence against China notches symbolic diplomatic victory in Czech Republic
Intelligence Online understands that the Czech Republic has invited Taiwanese representatives to a reception organised in celebration of the country's
CHINA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/IRAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Pasdaran U... and Hong Kong, EU intel sharing, Novichok, Biden's priorities
Iran - IRGC's Unit 840 activated to dampen civil unrest. According to our information, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/INDIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Broker threatens to spill Thales's Indian secrets to US authorities
Arms broker Sanjay Bhandari is waiting for a London court to rule on whether he will be extradited to India,
ITALY : Jean-Philippe Fortier working for Italian cyber-intelligence specialists Innova in the Gulf
At the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR) in Abu Dhabi on October 10-12, Italian cyber-intelligence company Innova
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : In Moscow and Crimea, Ukrainian saboteurs are a thorn in the FSB's side
Moscow moved quickly to tighten security at the Kerch Bridge after the explosion on 8 October. The smoke had not yet cleared when Leonid Mikhailyuk, the Crimea head of the FSB, the intelligence s...
UAE/OMAN : Spymasters Tahnoon bin Zayed and Mohammed Al Naamani draw up new UAE-Oman intelligence pact
Making his first state visit to an Arab country since the death of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in May, the UAE's
IRAQ : Kadhimi negotiates with Sadrists to keep leadership of INIS
Although he officially retired from Iraqi politics in September, Shi'ite nationalist Muqtada Al Sadr is still pulling strings so that his
IRAQ : Barzanis rule over Kurdistan's tight-security Erbil Rotana hotel
The luxury Erbil Rotana is the only hotel in Iraqi Kurdistan to offer the levels of protection required by its
AUSTRALIA : Mike Burgess aims to take Australia into global intelligence premier league
Mike Burgess, the emblematic head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO, IO, 15/04/22), Australia's internal intelligence service, has survived
FRANCE/TURKMENISTAN : With Vinci, Bouygues and Thales, French industry turns back towards Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, son of former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, took up the tradition once again of holding a series of
UZBEKISTAN : Uzbek president's daughter leads campaign to spread influence in the West
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's daughter is vice-chair of a cultural fund behind two exhibitions about Uzbek art and history opening in
UNITED STATES : Cynnovative increasingly integrated into DARPA's cyber innovation
The cyber firm Cynnovative, founded in 2017, is one of three companies that have been selected by the Defense Advanced Research
UAE/UNITED STATES : US Democrats played key communications role in UAE bid for COP28
The 28th UN climate conference, COP28, will take place in November 2023 on the former Expo 2020 Dubai site, which
UNITED STATES/EUROPEAN UNION/BELARUS : APCO working on both sides of Belarusian unrest
On 23 September, lobbying giant APCO Worldwide began facilitating contracts with the US media for the exiled head of Belorussian
UNITED KINGDOM : Amy Lashinsky and Ambrose Carey sell Alaco to US Risk Management group Sigma7
There should soon be an official announcement, but Amy Lashinsky and Ambrose Carey have just finalised the sale of their
CHINA/TAIWAN : Much to Taipei's dismay, Xi about to become president for life
Just days before the Chinese Communist Party Congress that will announce President Xi Jinping's programme for his third term (IO,
AUSTRIA : DGSE and Mossad have front row seats at upcoming Al Halabi trial in Vienna
It appears that Austria's Prosecutor's Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) completed on 3 October its 80-page indictment in
SAUDI ARABIA : Bahri at forefront of Riyadh's logistics ambitions
Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri does not wish to continue with Bahri Bolloré Logistics, its 60%-40% joint venture with
UNITED STATES : Whooster tested by US Marshals, Sergio Caltagirone leaves Dragos
Arlington - US Marshals call in Whooster for their OSINT. US company Whooster won a contract, on 29 September, from
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN : Tahnoon bin Zayed's Kazakh networks boost opportunities for G42
Mansoor Al Mansoori, the chief operating officer of the Emirati artificial intelligence (AI) company Group 42 (G42), used his time
FRANCE : OTDH provides test for French cyber-intelligence ecosystem
Ockham Solutions' acquisition by Olivier Dellenbach's ChapsVision, revealed last month by Intelligence Online, has consolidated the budding cyber conglomerate's place in sovereign markets. Ockham...
UAE/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : NMC fraud case proves to be major boon for financial investigators
In the latest twist in the demise of hospital giant NMC, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Court agreed to freeze the
CHINA/FRANCE : French newcomer Sinopole targets Chinese market
Over the past few weeks, Sinopole has been presenting itself as a new interface for understanding the complexities of modern
AFRICA/FRANCE/RUSSIA : From Paris, ESL & Network promotes the reputation of an increasingly Russia-aligned Madagascar
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina, who entrusted PR to François Hurstel's Concerto until last year, has hired another French firm, ESL
RUSSIA : Russia-based French security consultant Charles d'Anjou behind new media outlet Omerta
According to our information, Moscow-based Frenchman Charles d'Anjou is the sole shareholder of Omerta, a new conservative media outlet that
EUROPE : NATO sets up its national rotation system in Eastern Europe
France is continuing to play its role as leader of advanced NATO forces in Romania, with Leclerc tanks due to
IRAQ : Groupe ADP picks ex-Baghdad mayor Habbobi to handle its only project in Iraq
As we understand, though its bid for a contract in Mosul fell through (IO, 08/09/22), the French airport operator Groupe
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Former Japanese army general Kazuo Tokito joins NCD, the firm bridging UK and Japanese cyber
The former Japanese army major general Kazuo Tokito has recently joined the consulting firm specialised in cyber, Nihon Cyber Defence
FRANCE : Nardello, BPCE, Alaco, Paris forensic investigators
Washington - Nardello loses cyber chief.Curtis Rose has left as Nardello & Co's associate managing director for digital investigations and
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Moscow poised to recover funds in French court asset tracking case
On 9 November, the French national financial prosecutor's office, the PNF, will determine whether France should comply with a request from Russian judicial authorities to seize and transfer to Ru...
UKRAINE : Micro Focus and ICEYE spearhead UK's technical assistance foray into Ukraine
Intelligence Online understands that the British IT group Micro Focus has been picked to set up a threat intelligence platform
CHINA/EUROPE : Beijing tests the waters on Europe's views of regime
According to our reports, for the past few weeks, the Beijing group Qualland Institution has been conducting an in-depth assessment
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakhstan and its Stati nemeses engage in tit-for-tat informational warfare
While the Kazakhstan delegation was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September, the consultancy Highgate launched
RUSSIA : Russian counter-intelligence preps for risk of revolt against draft
In the headquarters of the FSB, the powerful domestic intelligence service responsible for Russian territory and its "near abroad", officers
GERMANY : BND comes under parliamentary scrutiny once again over Afghanistan committee
The parliamentary committee, assigned to investigate the Bundeswehr's unexpected retreat from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, has begun its
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Israeli firm's US cyber arm hires ex-intel officer to lobby in Washington
Elta North America, the US cyber-weapons arm of defence firm Israel Aerospace Industries (AIA - IO, 03/03/22) has hired three
GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Saudi Arabian aeronautical agent Al Zeer, dropped by Boeing, revived by Rheinmetall
His new partnership with German defence giant Rheinmetall is set to be a boost for Saudi Arabian agent Mohammed Al Zeer (IO, 27/09/22). The company MAZ Group, formerly MAZ Aviation Consulting, ha...
CHINA : Xi screens for loyalty ahead of party congress
According to our information, the Chinese government is giving itself until the end of the month to compile lists of
SAUDI ARABIA : MBS spares veteran spymaster Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan in Saudi shake up
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) was officially promoted to prime minister by the country's ailing
FRANCE : France's 2023 budget bill spells good news for intelligence services' real estate and cyber plans
Notes from the annex on defence of France's 2023 budget bill reveal that France's foreign intelligence service, the DGSE, will
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukraine allies pursue arms deliveries to the front while eyeing prize of future reconstruction
Paris recently promised its Ukrainian counterparts, according to our sources, that it would deliver three of the 12 unitary rocket launcher
UAE/INDIA/SINGAPORE : With Sunartek, the fallen king of Indian technical intelligence takes aim at the Singaporean market
Dubai-based defence technology solutions provider Stratign continues to grow in the Gulf region and will attend the upcoming International Exhibition
UKRAINE : Kyiv to appoint new head of asset recovery
The recruitment of a new director for Ukraine's Asset Recovery and Management Agency, or ARMA, a process due to last three and a half months, got underway in Kyiv this week. The ARMA, which was s...
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-Nardello London investigators regroup at Zenobia Intelligence
In a move that has caused a stir in the London corporate intelligence world, Martin Stone left US prosecutor Dan
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UZBEKISTAN : Cofrex, Viginum, Uzbek SGB, US Captagon crackdown
France - COFREX picks representative for its Expo 2025 Osaka presence. As Expo City Dubai (ECD) emerges from the site
EGYPT/INDIA : Intelligence cooperation at centre of Egypt-India strategic partnership
Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh and Egypt's President Abdelfattah al-Sisi and defence minister Mohamed Zaki signed a memorandum of understanding
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Kroll tracks down alleged blackmailers in Anatolian gold mines
The Turkish market has proved to be a lengthy ordeal for Centerra. Its CEO Scott Perry was forced to resign
AZERBAIJAN : Spymaster Beyler Eyyubov, the Aliyev clan's steadfast protector
As tensions escalate along the border with Armenia, the Azerbaijani president's security is largely in the hands of one of
RUSSIA : Shokoladnitsa on Ilinka Street, a sweet retreat for Kremlin staff
A sweeping glance inside the unassuming Shokoladnitsa in Moscow's historic centre reveals an unusual clientele. Seated on one table, the
FRANCE : French intelligence regroups to better cover war in Ukraine
France and Ukraine's misunderstandings over military aid aside (IO, 04/10/22), the French intelligence services still have much to offer their
SAUDI ARABIA : PIF banking on feedering to advance interests in Red Sea
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is in the process of founding a feedering company in
UNITED STATES : Pueo supplies intelligence briefings to Pentagon
Pueo Business Solutions was awarded a new Pentagon one-year contract on 27 September. Its consultants will provide strategic intelligence threat
ISRAEL : With Illuminant, ex-head of CyberCommand Yaron Rosen follows Toka's footsteps
Founded in May by the former head of the Israeli defence forces' cyber staff, Yaron Rosen, Illuminant, which registered a
UNITED KINGDOM : Intqual-pro, intelligence trainer for spies, investigators and private sector employees
Trainers from the small company Intqual-pro have been giving courses to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees the use
ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Iranian drone reports could see Israel increase intelligence cooperation with Ukraine
A new concern could upset the very delicate balancing act Israel is trying to keep between Russia and Ukraine (IO,
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Washington sharpens legal weapons against Beijing in global telecoms war
The new Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act (CUTAA) appears as the latest weapon built by the US in the global
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv and Moscow battle it out at Financial Action Task Force
The Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, which coordinates the fight of countries against corruption, money-laundering and the financing of
UAE/FRANCE : France's ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Xavier Chatel, promoted to Macron's personal diplomatic unit
The French ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Xavier Chatel de Brancion will leave Abu Dhabi in the next few
SYRIA : Syrian Democratic Forces' administration losing steam in northeast
The 28 September protests in the town of Qamishli, violently quashed by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, IO,
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Social Links in US, Mind Foundry advised by ex-Met, Othrys hires ex-FCDO
Miami: OSINT firm Social Links obtains CAGE codeDutch open source intelligence firm (OSINT) Social Links just got its CAGE code.
BANGLADESH : Hasib Chowdhury, the interface between interception companies and Bangladeshi technical intelligence
British businessman Hasib Chowdhury is, according to our sources, the key architect of Bangladesh's major interception system contracts. He was involved in the recent acquisition by the Rapid Act...
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : DCI aims relaunch in Riyad
Intelligence Online was able to consult a document showing French military contractor Défense Conseil International (DCI) recruited headhunter Eric Salmon
ITALY : Italian ex-MP Tofalo launches business diplomacy firm
Italian former Five Star Movement MP Angelo Tofalo launched the strategic consulting firm AT Agency last week. From 2018, Tofalo, a former
CHILE/ISRAEL : Israeli cyber company makes gains in Chile despite diplomatic snub thanks to SecurityST
Although the Chilean President Gabriel Boric refused to accept the credentials of Israel's ambassador Gil Artzyeli two weeks ago over
FRANCE/TURKEY/UNITED KINGDOM : Suppelsa at Raedas, Lord Vaizey in crypto, ESL does PR
Istanbul/London: Raedas poaches from super lawyer AmsterdamMatthew Suppelsa, who had been working as a political analyst in Istanbul for Robert
BRAZIL/UNITED STATES : Top figure at secret political consulting firm Winning Team helps link Trump supporters with Bolsonaro
In a story reported last week on ties between the US right and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, news website Agencia
UNITED KINGDOM : New London Met Police chief Rowley quizzed by parliament about consulting work
Sir Mark Rowley, who was appointed in July to head the Metropolitan Police and effectively started work earlier this month,
POLAND : The Polish politician pushing for a greater intelligence services budget
Waldemar Andzel, a member of the Law and Justice majority party in the Sejm (Poland's lower house of parliament), has
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : USSOCOM still in Q-West base two years after official withdrawal
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, a contingent of the US special forces - the US Special Operations Command
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/TURKMENISTAN : US lobbyist and businessman Watson connects Caspian Sea gas companies with Washington
According to our sources, US businessman and lobbyist Bert Watson met Kazakh oil and gas officials last month when a
ALBANIA/UNITED STATES/KOSOVO : Albania and Kosovo launch charm offensive in Washington
Dallas-based insurance investor Roy Bailey's firm Bailey Strategic Advisors is lobbying for Albania and Kosovo in Washington. In May this year, Bailey contacted senators and parliamentary attach�...
CHINA/FRANCE : Paris sets foot back in Wuhan, puts past behind it
After a one-year vacancy, France is soon to have a new consul general in Wuhan, China. Jean-Yves Roux, France's previous
UNITED STATES : Counterintelligence, poor relation of US intelligence community, in Senate spotlight
The Biden administration is due to appoint a permanent director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), ending a
CHINA/EUROPE/RUSSIA/TURKEY : Xi prepares diplomatic push to preserve "neutral" stance on Russia
Intelligence Online understands that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is remobilising the Chinese embassies in Europe on the Russian
UAE/IRAQ/KURDISTAN : Banking on the UAE, Iraqi Kurdistan plans diplomatic office in Dubai
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is planning to open an office in Dubai next year, Intelligence Online's sources say. The
UNITED STATES : Grist Mill Exchange trades in commercially sourced intelligence for the CIA
Thanks to a deal struck with the data-driven marketing analyser Alliant in September, newcomer Grist Mill Exchange now has a
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Misunderstanding between Kyiv and Paris over arms deliveries grows
The France-Ukraine armament committee held in mid-September, as we revealed (IO, 12/09/22), allowed each side to realise the extent of the misunderstandings between them. There were very few indu...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakh asset recovery on hold until elections over
According to our sources, Kazakh attorney general Berik Assylov's staff and US and British law firms held another coordination meeting
UAE/RUSSIA : Russia's Novatek develops offshore ruse to pursue flagship Arctic LNG 2 project
As the effect of US and European sanctions take hold, Russian gas company Novatek, headed by Leonid Mikhelson, has come
UAE/UNITED STATES/BELARUS : US lobbyists help Belarusian ex-arms czar keep sanctions at bay
Over the past year, the Belarusian businessman Vladimir Peftiev has spent $130,000 on lobbying US policymakers to keep his name
CHINA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Beijing intervenes again in response to Moscow's nuclear threat
The Russian and Chinese protocol services are currently preparing a telephone call between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, at the
GERMANY/UAE/ISRAEL/ITALY/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russia's mobilisation, Shin Bet in Dubai, Belloni, Kyiv presses Berlin
Israel/United Arab Emirates - Shin Bet lays down its terms for Dubai airport. A long bout of negotiations over the
FRANCE/RUSSIA : French public electricity group EDF under threat from FSB investigation in Moscow
EDF's new CEO, Luc Rémont, who was appointed on 29 September, already has a stack of Russian files piling up
UAE : Reem al-Hashimi steers UAE's sustainability showcase
Reem al-Hashimi, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for International Cooperation, has just gotten busier. On October 1, Hashimi,
France/UAE : Obvious Technologies moves beyond Doha to Abu Dhabi
Obvious Technologies is looking to expand in the Gulf. The firm's chairman, Thierry Orosco, a former commander in the French
FRANCE : DGSE, French DNI, Personal Chief of Staff: Macron set to fill three top national security jobs
As autumn begins with the presidential security agenda dominated by the consequences of the war in Ukraine, a reshuffle of France's top intelligence and defence team is in the offing. The most pr...
CHINA : Xi's latest purge confirms his absolute grip on public security
With the suspended death sentence for corruption handed down to Sun Lijun, a former deputy minister of the Ministry of
ITALY : Piazza di Pietra: a charming square steeped in secrets
One of the most graceful squares in Rome, Piazza di Pietra, located at the heart of the Colonna district a
CHINA : Xi's plans to turn Alibaba into an AI research tool for defence take shape
Chinese online trading giant Alibaba's recent announcement that its software services subsidiary Alimama was opening two new university-supported research centres
RUSSIA : Russian asset recovery agency comes into the US's firing line
Andrey Melnikov, who became director general of Russia's state-owned Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) in January, was put on the American
AUSTRIA : Allies remain wary of Omar Haijawi-Pirchner's reformed intelligence service
Officers within Austria's Directorate for National Security and Intelligence, the DSN, headed by the 42-year-old Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, are continuing operations
UNITED KINGDOM : British intelligence tries to become Warren Buffet-style tech investor
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and radar imaging supplier ICEYE, which has been working since last month for Ukrainian intelligence, has in
UAE/FRANCE : DCI and Naval Group in trouble on Emirati corvette offsets
French armed forces services contractor Défense Conseil International (DCI) recently had to give up on its plans to train Emirati
ISRAEL/SERBIA/SWEDEN : East and West battle for Serbia's mass surveillance software market
The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), which has for a long time had difficult relations with the authorities, is
KAZAKHSTAN/KYRGYZSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Central Asian intell... services take a first step towards their British counterparts
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are looking for new international cooperation channels. According to our information, representatives of their respective internal intelligence
IRAN/ISRAEL : Under new bosses Aman and Mossad still disagree over Iran nuclear deal
Aharon Haliva, the new head of Aman, the intelligence divison of the Tsahal, is taking an increasingly strong position in
IRAQ/IRAN : Iran's industries go after Kurdistan oil and gas
An eclectic array of exhibitors attended the Erbil International Fair from 20 to 23 September, ranging from Syrian retailers based
UAE/ISRAEL : Anissa Saunder joins CPX, Brian Frutchey leaves Bigbear, Bugsec shakes up management
Abu Dhabi - France's Saunder joins UAE cyberintelligence firm CPX.Anissa Saunder, previously with the Franco-US legal interceptions firm Aqsacom, was
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL : Virtual HUMINT specialists test new avenues for their avatars
A Pentagon audit launched last month into online influence operations after it was discovered that US intelligence was potentially using fake Facebook and Twitter accounts, reported by the Washin...
EUROPE/KAZAKHSTAN : Advisory firm Project Associates helps Kazakh national oil company to boost exports
According to our information, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) recently hired online influencing specialist Project Associates. KMG's long-term aim
FRANCE/IRAQ : TotalEnergies leaves Kurdistan under pressure from Baghdad
TotalEnergies' announcement of the sale of its stake in Iraqi Kurdistan's Sarsang oil field on 15 September (IO, 20/04/22) is
LUXEMBOURG/EUROPEAN UNION/UNITED KINGDOM : EIB increases in...ations spending, Nardello, Herminius, TDI Sustainability, Enyo
Luxembourg - EIB boosts corporate intelligence budget.On 15 September, the European Investment Bank (EIB) amended the value of one of
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Tokayev's team screens US lawyers to boost asset hunt
The Kazakh government has begun screening lawyers able to offer skills that could help with its hunt for assets held
UKRAINE : Kyiv plans tighter administrative control in Russian-controlled territories
On 19 and 21 September, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky drew up a new military administration in the Kherson oblast, along
FRANCE : London's Aperio keeps faith in Paris opportunities
Didier Rafidiarimanda was appointed to head the French branch of Briton Adrian Ford's Aperio Intelligence last month. Familiar with defence,
FRANCE : After Deveryware, Chapsvision targets deal with Ockham
According to our sources, the French big data firm ChapsVision is currently negotiating the acquisition of fellow French player Ockham Solutions
ALBANIA/UNITED STATES/MONACO/RUSSIA : The FBI goes after former agents turned Deripaska consultants
According to our information, lawyers for a US journalist who has been seeking to uncover Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska and his consultant Walter Soriano's US business networks recently aske...
CHINA/IRAQ : Beijing at odds with Barzani clan over $5bn 'happy city'
Intelligence Online understands that Beijing's flagship project in Iraqi Kurdistan, a $5bn "Happy City", is at a standstill. Talks with
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Is Belarus about to go to war with Ukraine?
As we understand, discussions are underway in Belarusian security circles to establish the legal and diplomatic "roadmap" for a full
SAUDI ARABIA : Riyadh set to announce GEOINT satellite constellation launch
Saudi Arabia is preparing to announce the launch of an optical observation satellite constellation programme in the coming weeks, according
RUSSIA/VATICAN/SAN MARINO : War in Ukraine: San Marino offers to be Vatican's diplomatic pedestal
Since his appointment as ambassador at large of the Republic of San Marino, the landlocked country in the mountains of
UNITED STATES/PAKISTAN : ISI and CIA cooperate again under Pakistani army chief of staff Qamar Javed Bajwa
Intelligence Online's sources say that Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is cooperating extensively with the CIA, as part of an
AZERBAIJAN : Deftech, the drone maker opening doors in Baku
Azerbaijan is keen to expand its drone industry, as made clear by its ministry of defence industry's stand at the
UAE/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Mohammed bin Zayed's sovereign fund decides to stay in London despite Macron's efforts
After having long been discussed by France and Abu Dhabi, plans to open a Mubadala office in Paris have recently
GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA : From Mishaal to Salman: Rheinmetall reconstructs its connections in Riyadh
Rheinmetall finalised the launch of its new air defence subsidiary RAD Arabia earlier his month, a partnership with agent Mohammed Al Zeer's MAZ Group, formerly MAZ Aviation Consulting, that high...
FRANCE : Cristal snaps up French intelligence Africa specialists
Christophe Berjonneau, the former head of operations at a defence ministry intelligence service, has joined ex-lawyer Kevin Rivaton's Lyon- and
UNITED STATES : Departement of State's intelligence bureau increases OSINT use to support US diplomacy
When speaking to a gathering of University of Texas at Austin students on 12 September, Brett Holmgren, the director of
RUSSIA : Tensions between Putin and his defence minister reach boiling point after Samarkand
The unfolding events in Ukraine appear to be driving an even wider wedge between President Vladimir Putin and his defence
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE : Riyadh poaches architects of the UAE's success to accelerate own mega projects
To accompany Saudi Arabia's future global airline, Riyadh's sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) is planning to build new
ISRAEL : Former Psy-Group CEO Burstien returns to cyber influencing with Percepto
Since the start of September, Israeli company Percepto International has been vaunting the capacities of its new Joint Special Perception
CHINA/UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : US national intelligence director prepares to step up effort to help Taiwan
The draft Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, which was approved by the US Senate foreign relations committee on 15 September, will require a major effort on the part of the services under the authority o...
SWITZERLAND/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Private diplomats position themselves for mediation roles in Russia-Ukraine war
Inter-Mediate, the private diplomacy firm headed by Tony Blair's former chief-of-staff Jonathan Powell, earned revenues of £1.4m in 2021-2022, up
GERMANY/CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/IRAQ/EUROPEAN UNION : Ru... plan at UN, defence attachés' battles in Indo-Pacific region
Russia - Mobilisation a pretext for settling scores between siloviki and opponents.Men over the age of 35 (the legal age
IRAQ/TURKEY : Hakan Fidan makes his moves on Iraq's complex political chessboard
Hakan Fidan, the longtime head of Turkey's MIT intelligence service (IO, 07/09/22) was sent to Baghdad by Recep Tayyip Erdogan
FRANCE : Paris seeks to grasp the fluid concept of lawfare
Working groups and briefing notes at the armed forces ministry and an interministerial task force are all signs that the
AZERBAIJAN : From the Hyatt to the Landmark: hotels of choice of financiers on Azerbaijani oil and gas quest
As oil and gas contracts flourish in Baku, hotels for lobbyists and executives have been cropping up alongside. One such
ISRAEL : Shin Bet boss Ronen Bar battles internal headwinds and Palestinian strife
Ronen Bar, the head of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet (IO, 15/08/22), gave a rare speech on 12 September
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Pyongyang's planned military technology transfers from Donbass
North Korean diplomats are currently very busy in the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic (DNR) looking for a suitable
FRANCE : Newcomer ChapsVision makes acquisition play for geolocation veteran Deveryware
French mass data analysis firm ChapsVision on September 22 came one step closer to taking on new duties for French
CHINA : Xi Jinping eyes conscription to forge new army
In early September, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) issued its
AZERBAIJAN/RUSSIA : Moscow and Baku's information security ties continue to hold strong
In the midst of a fresh spate of clashes with Armenia and the need for new foreign arms partners, Baku
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Opcit Research to serve as UN terrorism look-out in Afghanistan
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism renewed on 13 September its $53,000 contract with London-based Opcit Research, which will provide for research
PALESTINE/SYRIA : Moscow and Tehran behind Syria-Hamas reconciliation
According to our sources, Hamas put the final touches to its reconciliation with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's regime in
UAE/FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : Abu Dhabi backs Macron's One Planet Summit movement
On 6 October, according to our information, Emmanuel Macron will chair a meeting between the three financial groupings set up
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Intelligence contractor CACI plays key role in US support for Ukraine
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, US defence group CACI has little by little become the main supplier
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE/ISRAEL : Avisa Partners lands E...t contract, Lynn Herrick off to SS8, Dafna Messing joins Koios
Paris/Athens: Avisa Partners to work on ENISA cyber crisis managementAccording to our sources, French corporate intelligence company Avisa Partners has
BANGLADESH : Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion acquires a Telegram communications interception system
Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the police service's anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit, recently acquired a system, named Tucan, for the interception of communications on the Telegram...
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : London-based holding company li... former Kazakh government appoints international board members
It's all change at the London-based Jusan Technologies, the London-based parent company of an array of assets linked to Kazakhstan's
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Jaeger, Cooper, Oatley
London - Guy Cooper launches new investigation firm.Private investigation and tactical surveillance veteran Guy Cooper has launched a new firm,
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Ukraine counter-offensive sparks psychosis among Russia's siloviki
Military and intelligence officers are terrified that they will incur the wrath of the Kremlin for the setbacks in Russia's
FRANCE : French military gets offensive again in its information warfare against Russia
The CIAE (Centre Interarmées des Actions pour l'Environnement), tasked with conducting the French military's psychological operations (psyops) is currently recruiting
France/Saudi Arabia/United Kingdom : Saudi Sovereign Wealth...o take further step into infrastructure with stake in Heathrow
Saudi Arabian sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), went into partnership with French private equity investor Ardian, according to
FRANCE : Dassault looms large behind DGSI data analysis platform hopeful Bloom
The answer to which companies are ahead in the race to supply a mass data platform, or Outil de traitement
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : London stock exchange group to include Kyiv sanctions in its database
The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the company responsible for managing the City's stock exchange, recently gave assurances to the
UAE/UNITED STATES : US DoJ seeks to call counterintelligence expert in Tom Barrack UAE influence case
Department of Justice prosecutors and lawyers representing businessman Tom Barrack, founder of Colony Capital, now DigitalBridge, have been battling it out over who should be allowed to testify i...
SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi Arabian security and cybersecurity firm Viso Group has connections in London and the Hague
Saudi Arabia's security auditing market has traditionally been dominated by Western firms but new players are starting to make their
ISRAEL : IAI's dreams of profits fade away in Jamaica
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has recently lowered the profitability forecast for its cyber project in Kingston, Jamaica. Its subsidiary ELTA
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES : Massoud hires consultant to drum up US support for Afghan National Resistance Front
The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) - also known abroad as the International Office of the Afghan National Resistance
FRANCE/BELARUS : Minsk seeks to forge French connections
When much of France was shut down for the annual summer break last month, the French foreign ministry received two
CHINA/JAPAN : Chinese military commission convinces Xi Jinping to be conciliatory with Japan
The central committee of the Chinese Communist Party's politburo has been considering how to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
GERMANY/SAUDI ARABIA : Germany's ThyssenKrupp may be sidelined from Saudi hydrogen projects
Intelligence Online understands that the US company Air Products is unhappy with the partnership it has with a subsidiary of
CHINA/UNITED STATES/ITALY : Beijing's shadow hangs over Silk-Faw, the luxury car production mega-project
It was supposed to be the climax of the Silk-Faw mega-project: the signing of the notarial deed to start work on Silk-Faw's new building on the Gavassa site in the northern Italian province of Re...
AFGHANISTAN/FRANCE : French foreign ministry puts Afghanistan on hold
According to our sources, Catherine Colonna, France's recently named Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is not currently planning to
DENMARK/FRANCE/JORDAN/UKRAINE/BELARUS : New public security... Kalinovsky Regiment goes political, sex scandal in Copenhagen
Jordan - Abdallah II appoints new public security chief to combat drug trafficking.On 11 September, according to our sources, King
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Minsk hopes to stall war effort with ammunition supplies to Russia
As Intelligence Online understands, in the past few weeks, Russian teams have visited most of the military bases in Belarus
UNITED STATES : Jon Steinbach takes charge of Boldend
A few weeks ago, the former US Marine Jon Steinbach took over as head of the American cyber-intelligence company Boldend.
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Ukrainian military intelligence prepares to demonstrate its cyber offensive capacities in DC
On 20 September, an unprecedented event is due to take place in the offices of Arlington investment company, Sands Capital under the title, Multi-Modal Warfare. The guest stars will be two Ukrain...
GERMANY/UNITED KINGDOM : Hakluyt strenghtens its team in Germany
Hakluyt clearly believes in Germany, recently taking on two new executives for its Frankfurt office as it continues its transformation
UNITED KINGDOM : Picked up by new government, National Security Bill roasted by Westminster
On 8 September, during a session of the parliamentary National Security Bill (NSB) committee, Labour MPs pointed out several grey
EGYPT/TURKEY : Abbas Kamel bets on experienced spies to mend broken ties with Ankara
Intelligence Online understands that following a major "reshuffle" in Egypt's general intelligence service, the Mukhabarat, steered by its boss Abbas
FRANCE : French Council of State clears son-in-law of DGSE agent who spied for China
Commander Michael B., who is now working for a start-up and the association he founded to save dying languages -
BELARUS : Combative opposition homes in on Lukashenko's private security firm Gardservis
With the Belorussian opposition building up in strength to the great concern of the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko (see our
CHINA/UNITED STATES : The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel, a hotbed of intrigue on Fifth Avenue
The five-star St. Regis Hotel and its King Cole Bar sits tightly between the corner of 55th Street and Fifth
AZERBAIJAN/RUSSIA/TURKEY : As Rosoboronexport struggles, Baku looks to strengthen its links with Ankara and Tel Aviv
At the fourth Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX), which took place in Baku from 6 to 8 September, contacts between
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/KUWAIT/MIDDLE EAST/QATAR : Paris create...ador role for sovereign wealth funds, eyes PIF, ADIA, QIA, ADQ
The French ministry of economy and finance is allegedly putting together a new team dedicated to sovereign wealth funds (SWF)
SWITZERLAND : Cyber financial investigations specialist Cybera strengthens its intelligence team
Swiss cyber threat intelligence (CTI) specialist Cybera has begun actively strengthening its team of commercial and technical advisers. In September,
SERBIA : Will Serbia's intelligence chief "Father Gasic" stay or will he go?
Bratislav Gasic's fate will be sealed in the coming days. Serbia's spymaster, who is a loyal supporter of current president
GERMANY/IRAQ : Monarch well placed for contract to audit future new elections in Iraq
Following Shiite nationalist Mugtada al-Sadr's announcement on 29 August that he was withdrawing from politics and the violence that followed,
France : After a recent period of upheaval, Erys is set to be reappointed to Noumea
Erys Group should this week, according to your sources, obtain the extension of the security contract for the huge New
BELARUS : Belarus conducts KGB purge as armed opposition organises
According to our sources, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko summoned his siloviki to a meeting behind closed doors in August to
POLAND : Warsaw looks to expand its role as European military logistics platform
At the front line of NATO's military logistics response to the war in Ukraine (IO, 15/03/22), Poland intends to make
ITALY : Cy4Gate tries to contain the fall-out caused by recent revelations about new subsidiary RCS Lab
Since it acquired Italian legal interceptions specialist RCS Lab (IO, 15/04/22), Cy4gate has been increasingly in the spotlight. According to
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/KAZAKHSTAN : Butterfly Effect unveils ...eld Capital, HiJojo helps Kela, Kent lobbies for Trinity cyber
Nursultan: Butterfly Effect launches intercepted data analytics platform Butterfly Effect, the interceptions subsidiary of Kazakh holding company Kazdream, has brought
UKRAINE : Ukraine aims to become independent in geospatial intelligence
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) has been playing a key role. Ukraine is totally dependent on foreign support in this field, however. Satellite images ...
UKRAINE : Ukrainian-orientated lobbyist Yorktown defends telecoms Kyivstar in Washington
At the end of August, the multi-branch, Washington-based consulting company Yorktown Solutions declared it had earned $240,000 from services rendered
CHINA/ITALY : Benedetto Fu gives Matteo Renzi behind scenes advice on China
No one seems to know him or speak about him, and he always appears to be travelling or is elusive
FRANCE/GREECE/LEBANON/UNITED KINGDOM : Iskandar Safa faces British Navy's former First Sea Lord in Greek arbitration
Britain's former Chief of the Naval Staff and former First Sea Lord George Zambellas is once again expected to give
JORDAN/SYRIA : Amman and Damascus coordinate intelligence to bring refugees home
On 31 August, Ayham Khaddour, head of the Syrian Immigration and Passports Centre, was pleased to announce the return of
UAE : Tahnoon bin Zayed lays foundations of an Abu Dhabi global financial centre to rival Dubai
The United Arab Emirates is still on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international body
UAE/EUROPE/RUSSIA : Acustek distributes surveillance countermeasures from Dublin to Dubai
At its Irish headquarters, Acustek has been busy preparing to attend the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR)
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Nur-Sultan lawyers up to boost Nazarbayev-era asset hunt
Kazakhstan's prosecutor general Berik Assylov convened a meeting in Nur-Sultan on 13 September with US and UK private investigators. The move comes as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's administra...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ITALY/UNITED KINGDOM : Nardello, Optima, Ilios, Sparacino, DRSD
New York - Feldman to take over from Nardello in London.The former head of the New York-based business intelligence firm
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Mining conglomerate ENRC heirs take charge of family business affairs
Belgian-Uzbek oligarch Patokh Chodiev officially resigned from the board of the Almaty-registered Eurasian Financial Company on 2 September, marking another
UNITED STATES : FBI faces increasing political scrutiny as election security and counter-espionage work piles up
The upcoming US mid-term elections promise to be a particularly perilous passage for Chris Wray, who is now halfway through
UKRAINE : Zelensky continues to remodel his front-line security team
Control over Ukraine's security apparatus, which, at the highest level, is the informal preserve of presidential office head Andrii Yermak,
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Russian Orthodox Church bounces back via Budapest posting
Metropolitan Hilarion has made his first trips back and forth between Moscow and Budapest since his appointment in June to
CAMBODIA/CHINA : Beijing's painstaking work to open up Cambodia's political and royal doors
The honeymoon between Beijing and Phnom Penh is increasingly evident in many new areas. According to our sources, Queen Mother
TAIWAN : Taiwan's military procurement ambitions keep 'business diplomats' busy
According to our sources, the part state-owned CBSC, formerly the Taiwan International Shipbuilding Corporation, hired internationally well-connected defence official Wei
FRANCE/ISRAEL : French internal intelligence services look at Israeli firm Cognyte's technology
According to our sources, the French interior ministry is currently evaluating virtual human intelligence, or HUMINT, solutions from the Israeli
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/FRANCE : French minister Bruno Le Maire prepares Gulf tour
According to our sources, the French minister of the economy and finance, Bruno Le Maire, is considering making a visit to the Gulf at the end of October and his teams are working out the key poi...
GERMANY/CHINA/UNITED STATES/IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : Charles I... research at GCHQ, German counter-espionage and France's CNRLT
United Kingdom: Charles III, King of Spies Like much of the UK, the British intelligence community is in mourning for
CHINA/TAIWAN : Beijing maps 'Endgame' plan for Taiwan for end of Xi Jinping's new five-year term
Ahead of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) congress in one month's time during which President Xi Jinping will be consecrated
FRANCE : French far right to sit on parliamentary intelligence delegation for first time
Sacha Houlié, the new president of the French parliament's intelligence committee, the DPR (Délégation Parlementaire au Renseignement) is a busy
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA : Moscow to back North Korea's upcoming missile tests at the UN
For several days, North Korea has been preparing to launch a large missile, although no launch order has so far
FRANCE/UKRAINE : War in Ukraine: Ukrainian delegation to meet with French representatives to discuss arms supplies
According to our sources, a meeting of the ad hoc bilateral armaments committee is set to gather representatives of the
AZERBAIJAN/ISRAEL : Prosol enlists Israeli experts to boost Azerbaijani cyber training
Preparation of the curriculum for the future cyber training unit at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU), which
RUSSIA : Finance minister Siluanov between a rock and a hard place
According to our sources, Vladimir Putin was so incensed by a regulatory text produced by the Russian ministry of finance on 10 August that he opened an investigation to find out who exactly was ...
UNITED STATES/SINGAPORE : Mintz's takeover of investigator Barber Mullan & Associates pulls rug from under competitors' feet
Announced on 6 September, the sale of investigative firm Barber Mullan & Associates (BM&A) to US company Mintz Group could
UNITED STATES : Technological standards: Google and Bill Gates' think-tank wants EU-US alliance
The not-for-profit organisation Transatlantic Leadership Network (TLN) registered as an interest representative with the European Union (EU) in March. The
SOUTH KOREA : Career diplomat Kim Kyou-hyun sets about reforming South Korea's top intelligence service
A career diplomat who is also a qualified dentist, Kim Kyou-hyun was chosen by President Yoon Seok-youl at the end
SAUDI ARABIA : Riyadh sets its sights on UNESCO's top job
In accordance with the aims of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) Vision 2030, Riyadh is currently implementing a strategy
HONG KONG : Yat Lok, Chinese spies' Michelin-starred Hong Kong hangout
In the heart of Hong Kong's Central district you can find a tiny restaurant serving some of the best roast
UKRAINE : Ukraine's new economic security bureau finds its feet while war rages on
The increasing prominence of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, or BEB, in line with controls on materiel circulating in
KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA/TURKEY : Arms export ban leaves KazEngineering caught in the middle
Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov's validation of a one-year suspension on the export of its military products, starting 27 August,
EUROPE : European Commission pieces together its OSINT platform
According to our sources, in its capacity as an executive branch of the European Union (EU), the European Commission has
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Baltic traders ensuring continued export of industrial equipment to Russia
In the heavy industry sector, European producers of machinery, mechanical appliances and electrical equipment, especially producers in France, Germany and Poland, are deploying new import-export ...
UNITED STATES/YEMEN : Collapse of Yemen's precarious truce worries Washington
The seizing of an oilfield in Shabwah province on 21 August by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)/Emirati/Abu Dhabi-backed pro-government Giants
RUSSIA/VIETNAM : Rosoboronexport suffers setbacks in Kubinka and Hanoi
Hanoi has stopped all purchases of Russian military equipment and parts, according to our sources, because of fears that Vietnamese
FRANCE/IRAQ : Franco-Iraqi torchbearer Groupe ADP left in limbo in Mosul
As they laid the first stone in the rehabilitation of Mosul International Airport alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on
UAE/UNITED STATES : Bayanat appoints COO; First In invests ...ecurity; Leonardo to supply EASA's CTI, Shakeup at HawkEye 360
Abou Dhabi - GEOINT firm Bayanat appoints COO.Abdulla Al Shamsi joined the UAE's GEOSPATIAL intelligence firm Bayanat as its first
AUSTRALIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Space SIGINT specialist Kleos experiences turbulence
The Luxembourg-based signals interception satellite constellation firm Kleos Space, which was recently hauled before the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to
UNITED STATES : Blockchain intelligence experts much sought after by US financial intelligence services
After having been regular clients of British blockchain intelligence specialist Elliptic, the US Treasury's money laundering and terrorism financing investigators
FRANCE : Corporate intelligence firms Axis, Corexalys get into OSINT platform market
Axis & Co, the French corporate intelligence firm founded by Jean-Renaud Fayol and Bertrand de Turckheim, is getting into the
GREECE/INDIA/ISRAEL : Interception specialists Intellexa and Cleartrail use their Signal capabilities as a sales argument
Following the revelation that journalists and the leader of the Greek Socialist party had been compromised by its Predator spyware, the company set up by Tal Dilian, former head of Israel's Unit ...
FRANCE : Atos Digital Security to chaperone Aleph on cybersecurity market
French dark web investigations specialist Aleph Networks, which completed a fundraising operation during the summer (IO, 01/09/22), plans to try
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : ADIT, Hockley, the UNDP, new Jordanian-British firm
London - Email leak hunter Jake Hockley sets up new company.Former British technical intelligence community operator Jake Hockley set up
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Former FBI officer Mark Rossini in legal spat over consulting for Walter Soriano and CT Group
The discovery requested by news website Forensic News on 23 August before the court of the Southern District of New
UNITED STATES : K2 shaken by Tom Bock's departure
The offensive corporate intelligence and financial consulting firm JS Held has rattled K2 Integrity (the former K2 Intelligence) in New
SYRIA/TURKEY : Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative
Hakan Fidan, head of Turkey's MIT intelligence service, and Ali Mamlouk, head of Syria's National Security Bureau (IO, 21/03/22), held
UKRAINE : Kyiv reviews its intelligence services' counter-intelligence capacities
In its efforts to track down "moles" (IO, 13/07/22) and Russian agents present on its territory, Ukraine has seen that
SAUDI ARABIA/EGYPT/UAE : Abu Dhabi and Riyadh compete to rescue Egyptian economy
The Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) unveiled on 4 August,
KAZAKHSTAN : Vitaliy Voronov wants to combine efforts on Nazarbayev clan asset hunt
The announcement on 24 August that Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Agency's investigation into the activities of businessman Kairat Satybaldy, a nephew of former president Nursultan Nazabayev, had bee...
FRANCE/IRAQ/JORDAN : France starts work on a second Baghdad Conference... in Amman
The Middle East team at the French presidency, led by Emmanuel Macron's North Africa and Middle East adviser Patrick Durel,
UNITED STATES/POLAND/UKRAINE : Washington plans to produce missiles for Ukraine in Poland
American defence groups, including Lockheed Martin, and manufacturers of 155mm shells are currently working together, according to our sources, on
UAE : EDGE Group beefs up export apparatus
EDGE Group, the United Arab Emirates' part-publicly owned defence conglomerate, has opened a global export department intended to be a
UNITED STATES/QATAR : Qatar strengthens ties with the US as it tries to go sovereign in cyber
Salam International, which was on a prospecting mission in the United States, was obliged to register with the Justice Department's
BULGARIA/FRANCE/INDONESIA/QATAR : Indonesia and Bulgaria eye Qatar's Mirage 2000-5
Negotiations into the sale of 12 Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) 12 Mirage 2000-5 are hotting up, according to our sources. It looked as though the deal might be sealed with French company ARES befo...
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan justice ministry's New York advisers fail to swing case
A verdict handed down by the New York Supreme Court in favour of US businessman Daniel Chapman and his companies
CHINA : China Mineral Resources Group serves as template for Xi's new key sector conglomerates
Chinese President Xi Jinping has chosen two trusted aides with experience in the mining sector to oversee the creation of the
FRANCE : Dancing around classified information management at French customs intelligence service
Now part of France's inner intelligence circle, customs intelligence service DNRED (Direction nationale du renseignement et des enquêtes douanières) is
UNITED STATES/PALESTINE/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : The Prevent...new China analyst, pay rises planned for Russian investigators
Palestine - New breed of fighters worries Preventive Security chief Majad Faraj A member of the old guard at Fatah,
FRANCE : Paris Olympic Games intelligence apparatus coming together
According to our sources, France's future Olympic intelligence centre, the Centre de renseignement olympique (CRO) will ultimately be supported by
RUSSIA : War in Ukraine: trouble at the top amongst Russian General Staff
To micromanage Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, Russian president Vladimir Putin is relying heavily on Sergey Surovikin, commander of the aerospace
RUSSIA : The man who spearheads Russia's new IT patriotism
Russian former deputy minister for telecommunication and computer expert Ilya Massukh is a busy man in the lead up to
FRANCE/JORDAN : Amman entrusts its bug bounty programme to France's Yogosha
Strengthening its position in the Middle East, less than a year after landing a bug bounty contract with Abu Dhabi
CHINA : Influence wars intensify at top of CCP in run-up to National Congress
In the run-up to the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress (CCP) on 16 October, the struggle between President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang's cronies within the party's politburo ...
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Baghdad hires Vinson&Elkins to defend oil interests in Washington
With Baghdad intensifying its offensive against Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) oil activities - over which it has threatened to take
GERMANY/SYRIA : Germany's Gauff Engineering plays key role in reconstruction of Syria's water infrastructure
Officially, Germany, which is still intent on maintaining an anti-Bashar al-Assad stance - like France (IO, 12/07/22) - refuses to finance
FRANCE : Café Max, cherished hangout of French corporate security directors, changes ownership
A page turns. This summer, Valdo Riva, owner of the Café Max in Paris, retired and sold the restaurant he
SAUDI ARABIA : Attias pushes business involvement in 6th Future Investment Initiative
The highlight of the Saudi Arabian autumn events agenda, the 6th Future Investment Initiative (FII), will be organised finally by
PAKISTAN : ISI chief Nadeem Anjum spearheads quiet intelligence revolution in Pakistan
The Legislative Assembly elections in Punjab on 17 July were the occasion for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Nadeem Ahmad
UNITED STATES : David Gauthier drives US geospatial intelligence's economic shift
If passed, the discreet amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act for 2023 - a bipartisan proposal backed by US Senate
INDONESIA/RUSSIA : Minnikhanov leads business rapprochement between Russia and Indonesia
As Moscow looks for new long-term trading outlets, the head of Russia's Tatarstan republic, Rustam Minnikhanov, is showing himself to
KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh intelligence generates local cyber industry with Kazdream
While its interception subsidiary, Butterfly Effect, is preparing to take part in the ISS World fair for intelligence providers, to
UKRAINE : Special communications service to play central role in cyber counteroffensive
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky entrusted the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP) with a new mission mid-August:
QATAR/OMAN : Muscat and Doha jostle for lead mediatory role in Iranian nuclear talks
As negotiations aimed at reestablishing the 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear programme ramp up, Muscat's spy chief, Sultan's Office head
UAE : Fazza, the crown prince steering Dubai's economic future
The 12 July announcement of a $12m aid plan for Dubai's "people of determination" by Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Cristal invests in Aleph, Paravi...xpansion Fund, Daniel Weitzner quits Palantir advisory council
Lyons/Paris - Corporate intelligence operator Cristal Group buys into dark web investigator Aleph Networks.French dark web investigations specialist Aleph Networks completed
ITALY : Italian intelligence provider Negg makes entrance at ISS World exhibition
As part of its drive to boost its international presence begun in 2019 (IO, 19/07/22), Italian cyber-intelligence firm Negg will
UAE : Edge Group to pilot Abu Dhabi's multi-constellation spy satellites programme
Western industrialists are beginning to prepare for a round of tenders for the UAE's vast surveillance satellite constellation construction project. The UAE Space Agency announced on 17 July that...
AUSTRALIA/CHINA : Garnaut Global acts as watchdog for academic cooperation between Beijing and Canberra
The governmental Australian Research Council's funding campaign opens on 19 October, but Australian researchers specialising in China are already worried
BULGARIA/UNITED STATES : Three US lobbyists help boost Caspian gas option for Europe
The ongoing negotiations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan to increase gas imports are being watched very closely by the Bulgarian company,
EUROPE : Tensions high over diplomatic security contracts in Iraq and Libya
A contract from the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) has just been awarded, according to our sources,
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Kelkar called to the rescue of The Risk Advisory Group in DC
Private investigations veteran Patrick Kelkar recently joined The Risk Advisory Group (TRAG) as head of its Washington bureau, according to
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : GPW/Schillings, Exiger Diligence, Nardello, Banque de France, Opus Pear Tree
London: Irwin leaves NardelloBarry Irwin, who operated from London as head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa chief for
IRAQ : Spy chief al-Shammari inspects security arrangements on the Syrian-Iraqi border
Abdul Amir al-Shammari, head of the Iraqi defence ministry's intelligence service and a trusted aide of Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who is
UKRAINE : Military intelligence expands mandate as its takes weapons trade under its wing
In mid-August, the Ukrainian defence ministry's military intelligence directorate, GUR, was given the control over the state-owned military equipment exporter SpetsTechnoExport
ISRAEL/ITALY : Ofer Cohen link Israeli cyber sector and US special forces air transport contractor
Italian-based vulnerability trader Dataflow Security (IO, 30/06/22), has just opened a branch in Spain. Despite its modest size, the company, headed
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Moldova's Statis take aim at Emmanuil Grinshpun in US courts
The lengthy legal battle between the Moldovan businessmen Anatol Stati and Gabriel Stati and the Kazakh government (IO, 26/10/21 and
GERMANY/FRANCE/MALAYSIA : Naval Group and Rheinmetall contracts caught up in Malaysian anti-corruption audit
Although the energy crisis has limited the chances of a quick outcome, Naval Group was until recently hoping that the Royal Malaysian Navy would buy two new submarines (IO, 04/10/21), in addition...
PAKISTAN/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ukraine corporate intelligence firm COSA sets up shop in Islamabad
COSA, founded by Pavel Verkhniatsky and Nikolai Kolesnikov, is planning to announce in September that it has set up shop
CHINA/RUSSIA : Russia chooses deputy foreign minister as new ambassador in Beijing
Russia's deputy minister in charge of relations with Asia, Igor Morgoulov, should shortly announce his transfer to Beijing as ambassador,
CHINA/TAIWAN : Beijing puts out feelers to gauge potential foreign reaction to Taiwan attack
Several days ago, the office of President Xi Jinping asked the Ministry of State Security (MSS, or Guoanbu), which is
VIETNAM : PM Pham Minh Chinh gets embroiled in AIC Group corruption case
On 18 August, Vietnam's public security ministry announced some news regarding the corruption case against the AIC Group, whose chairwoman
CHINA/GREECE : China gains upper hand in strategic Piraeus port expansion
According to our sources, the Chinese shipping giant Cosco should definitely reopen the extension of its facility in the port
EGYPT/UAE : Cybersecurity specialist Help AG set to follow Etisalat into Egyptian market
A delegation from Help AG, the cyber security subsidiary of state-owned Emirates telecommunications group e& (ex-Etisalat), travelled to Cairo in
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA : Talks due on role for North Korean special forces in Ukraine
Sources say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is preparing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the first weekend of
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Spymaster Abbas Ibrahim suffers further setback in US over Fakhoury affair
The court of the District of Washington has ruled against Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanon's General Directorate of State
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Kyiv strives to show Western donors it is monitoring weapons supplies
The TSK temporary arms control investigation commission is in full swing. On 17 August, its members reported on their activities to British, Canadian, Italian, German, Baltic and Polish military ...
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/INDIA/JAPAN : Australia seeks greater influence in Quad alliance
A few days ago, Kate Clayton, a young research officer at La Trobe University in Melbourne contacted 16 fellow Quad
RUSSIA/VATICAN : Moscow ready to welcome the pope...but only after the war
The Russian presidential administration has, according to our information, agreed in principle to host a diplomatic visit to Moscow by
FRANCE : France's security interceptions unit feels pinch of staff shortages
Like France's other technical and cyber intelligence services, employees at the Groupement Interministériel de Contrôle (GIC) are beginning to be
INDIA/RUSSIA : Rosoboronexport's missing helicopters awaited in New Delhi
India's prime minister Narendra Modi is preparing to crack open the champagne on the IAC-1 Vikrant, touted as his country's
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Nur-Sultan hopeful Iran nuclear deal could open up oil export options
In its effort to reduce its dependence on Russia, through which the bulk of its oil and gas exports transit,
UAE : Injazat management team swept away in UAE cyber sector restructuring
Injazat, the cyber defence contractor which works for the UAE's intelligence and local government services (IO, 07/04/22) has moulted over
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US plans tactical intel releases to counter China
The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chairman Mark Warner and its lead Republican representative Marc Rubio put the finishing touches in late July to the Intelligence Authorization Act ...
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Boston Consulting Group to promote Saudi bid to host 2030 FIFA World Cup
Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, foreign affairs adviser to former French president Jacques Chirac (2002-2007) and secretary general at the French ministry of
EGYPT/FRANCE/ISRAEL/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Tracfin, Shin Bet in Cairo, FSB's coast guards, the SBU
France - Tracfin seeks new chief to boost technical department. Last month, French financial intelligence service Tracfin posted several job
ASIA/RUSSIA : Lavina Pulse, Russia's "Cambridge Analytica", is looking to export its services to South East Asia
As Russia strengthens its commercial and security ties with Asian countries, open source intelligence (OSINT) company Lavina Pulse (IO, 24/03/21)
BAHRAIN/UNITED KINGDOM : Bahrain Rugby Club, a hub of British beer and influence in the Gulf
At the Bahrain end of the King Fahd Causeway, a vital artery for the Bahraini economy and entry point for
POLAND : Domestic intelligence expert Colonel Bartosz Jarmuszkiewicz takes over foreign intel
On 8 August, Piotr Krawczyk, head of foreign intelligence agency Agencja Wywiadu (AW) and the figure at the forefront of
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-president Nazarbayev's contacts under scrutiny in Las Vegas and London
If Nursultan Nazarbayev announced at the end of July that he would be returning to Kazakhstan after a holiday in
FRANCE/CHAD : LMO Fly Dynamics lands Force multinationale mixte aerial surveillance contract
Young intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operator LMO Fly Dynamics Development has been flying missions over the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, in recent
UAE : After the takeover of cyber specialist Digital14, Edge heads into Asia
Sign4l, Edge Group's electronic warfare subsidiary, will be presenting its Oscuro Wi-Fi interception system at the upcoming Asian edition of ISS World, the intelligence provider trade show to be ...
UAE : Dubai steps up anti-money laundering policy
To release the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from its increased monitoring from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) - the
UKRAINE : Zelensky fine-tunes his security apparatus
The Ukrainian defence and national security council, or RNBO, chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky himself, was joined by two new
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Londongrad divided over use of SLAPPs and GDPR in lawsuits
Last month, the UK ministry of justice published a set of conclusions following a public consultation on so-called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known as SLAPPs. These legal ac...
AZERBAIJAN : Baku intelligence prioritises cyber upgrades
Baku's spymasters are taking action to reinforce the country's cyber defences through a combination of partnerships, targeted hires and managerial
CHINA/HUNGARY : Giant Hungarian battery plant project strengthens Beijing's position in Central Europe
Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world's largest manufacturer of electric batteries for the automobile industry, announced last week that it
RUSSIA/MYANMAR : Russia and Myanmar move to circumvent sanctions
In preparation for a forthcoming bilateral meeting scheduled, according to our sources, for September, the Department for Multilateral Cooperation and Special Projects of Russia's Ministry of Eco...
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : Global Diwan's annual forum on French Riviera to have Saudi focus
The seasoned French former diplomat Maurice Gourdault-Montagne and public affairs consultant Eric Schell speak regularly on the phone these days,
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/UKRAINE : The top brass and consultants steering Kyiv on the path to NATO
While offensives and counter-offensives continue on Ukrainian soil, behind the scenes, the foundations are already being laid for a future
CHINA : The PLA arms itself for technological warfare
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has no choice but to recruit people with degrees in IT, maths, engineering and STEM.
CHINA/TAIWAN : China's Yom Kippur War-inspired strategy for Taiwan
Israeli intelligence services have, according to our sources, sent out warnings on China's strategy to regain full sovereignty over Taiwan and how it means to implement it. It is understood the B...
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Kremlin ramps up action to keep news sources quiet
With the war in Ukraine now in its sixth month, life is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists in Moscow, whether
GERMANY : In Berlin, spies are back and seeking an ideal meeting place
Thanks to Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, the BND, making its new home in the city in 2019, and the war
CANADA : David Vigneault prepares the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for foreign interference battle
David Vigneault, who was re-appointed head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on 16 June, has been accorded the
TURKEY : How Erdogan commandeered Turkey's cyber industry
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has become more influential than ever within the Turkish defence industry, is completing the process of
FRANCE : Anti-disinformation agency Viginum seeks to move up a gear after a year in operation
Viginum, an agency tasked with combating foreign information manipulation, celebrated its first birthday on 12 July in its premises in
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Inside Kyiv's lobbying push in Washington
First to raise awareness among the American public, then to support financial contributions made by Washington, and lastly to dampen
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Intelligence world heads into the metaverse
The cyber-oriented world of secret intelligence is gradually being drawn into the "metaverse" by a private sector that is already deeply invested in such virtual spaces, backed by heavy marketing...
EUROPE : Russian Monaco magnate Rybolovlev, a corporate intelligence saga through the years
In the six months since the invasion of Ukraine, Russian oligarchs have settled on their communications strategies. Dmitry Rybolovlev has
FRANCE : Special forces still the perfect incubator of generals
France's current chief of the defence staff, Thierry Burkhard, is not a fan of the special forces, something he shows
UNITED STATES/CZECH REPUBLIC/TAIWAN : Jakub Janda looks to strengthen relations between Prague, Washington and Taipei
The European Values Center for Security Policy (EVCSP), which is headed by Jakub Janda, brought a delegation from the Taiwan
UNITED STATES : Kroll, JS Held, Ankura, Big Four: corporate intelligence giants battle for market supremacy
The investigations market, once a niche where the names of operators were discreetly exchanged between financiers and lawyers, is experiencing an unprecedented boom. It has been driven by asset t...
UAE/FRANCE : French bug bounty hunters free to export their services unrestricted
So-called bug bounty firms such as YesWeHack and Yogosha of France (IO, 03/02/22) are strengthening their presence in the Gulf, in particular in Dubai.
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Beijing becomes lead operator in Argentina's 'lithium triangle'
Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium's $962m acquisition of Lithea, a subsidiary of Canada's LSC Lithium Corp, on 12 July crowns
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Under pressure from Kyiv and Washington, Moscow rows hard to keep its industries afloat
In recent weeks the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has toughened its sanctions regulations, introducing stricter disclosure requirements and harder penalties fo...
BELARUS : Lukashenko fantasises about militarising the KGB
Alexander Lukashenko on 13 June announced with great fanfare the forthcoming reform of his country's unique intelligence agency, the KGB.
UNITED STATES : White House wants bipartisan approach to strategic research on China
After the four years of the Trump administration's erratic handling of Chinese-US relations, President Joe Biden's teams are trying to
ISRAEL : Behind Shin Bet's VIP missions
On the agenda of the inaugural meeting between the head of Israel's internal security organisation Shin Bet (IO, 14/04/22), Ronen
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : US, UK eagerly welcome French intelligence service reform
Sources in Washington and London told Intelligence Online that the new structure of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) could transform France's position among Western intelligen...
RUSSIA : S-RM tackles Russian crypto crime
Despite its revenues from cyber decreasing this year, as should appear in September on its upcoming annual accounts, S-RM continues
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Raedas tried to prove conflict of interest in Saudi arbitration case in Paris
Raedas was involved in a case before the Paris appeals court recently, Intelligence Online can reveal. The firm, founded by
UNITED KINGDOM : The Travellers Club: where big business meets big secrets
There is no sign by the entrance: in the heart of the City of Westminster, 106 Pall Mall is not
BELARUS : Infighting tears apart Belarus opposition as Moscow, EU and US watch
The second Forum of Democratic Forces of Belarus, held in Berlin on 11 and 12 of July, saw factions unite
DENMARK : Svend Larsen, low-key interim chief of Denmark's scandal-shaken external intelligence service
The shock waves of Lars Findsen's suspension as head of Denmark's external and military intelligence service, the Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste (FE),
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/GEORGIA : UE and US use tried and tested methods for security reform in Tbilisi
While Brussels claims it is offering Tbilisi a European "perspective", despite refusing it European Union (EU) candidate status (IO, 13/06/22),
SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi Arabia's SNC ICT gears up for intelligence IT offset contracts
SNC ICT, formerly Systems Networks Company Limited (SNC), the local partner of BAE Systems in Saudi Arabia, stands to benefit
BELARUS : KGB keeps @Lebiadok behind bars
Yahor Lebiadok, the man behind the Telegram channel @lebiadok and a reserve officer in the Belarusian armed forces, last posted
TURKEY : Erdogan tightens grip of Turkish lawful interception tech
The state-owned Turkish telecommunications company Turk Telekom's interceptions development arm Argela has been operating without a director since Bulent Kaytaz's
CHINA/TAIWAN : Beijing goes into action ahead of Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan
China's Central Military Commission (CMC) has met on several occasions since Tuesday 19 July to determine how to react if
EUROPE/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Sastre and Millennium, the twin investigative firms snapping up business in Eastern Europe
Andras Radnoti, the co-founder of Sastre Consulting and Millennium Emerging Europe, has continued to build on his overnight success within
UKRAINE : Shape of Zelensky's post-Bakanov intelligence corps begins to emerge
The fate of Ukraine's former spymaster is still hanging on a court investigation launched under article 47 of the disciplinary
POLAND/RUSSIA : Warsaw counts on homegrown talent to shore up its cyber defences
Faced with a growing number of cyberattacks, the bulk of which are distributed denial of service, or DDoS (IO, 12/10/16),
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Hagenah joins HackerOne tech... lands German frigate contract, Group-IB's Jurcenoks goes solo
San Francisco - Former Finfisher tech director Alexander Hagenah joins HackOne's tech council.Alexander Hagenah, who was until 2021 chief technology
ISRAEL : Ori Ashkenazi builds up his interests in Israeli cyber intelligence
Following the withdrawal of Guy Geva and Nimrod Reznik from the capital of cyber intelligence specialist Quadream (IO, 22/06/22) a
AFRICA/FRANCE : Bernard Barbier boosts French bid to get back on top of African cyber sector
Intelligence Online can reveal that Bernard Barbier, a former technical director of the DGSE French foreign intelligence service, will soon travel to Abidjan to meet with officials there at a con...
EGYPT/ISRAEL : Abbas Kamel keeps the calm in Gaza for Biden's visit
Egypt's ever-more powerful intelligence chief Abbas Kamel (IO, 04/07/22), head of the Mukhabarat al-Amma, Egypt's general intelligence service, put on
AUSTRALIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : The key to Australia's diplomatic muscle in the Pacific
The embrace between Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on 13 July at the
SYRIA : Syrian army and Syrian Democratic Forces join forces to face Erdogan's intervention threats
Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is in charge of US operations in the Middle East
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : US veterans shape support role through Ukrainian Freedom Fund
In Ukraine, since the start of the war, foundations and non-governmental organisations providing humanitarian and equipment aid, have been weaving
UNITED STATES : NSO-L3-Harris deal fails but prompts calls from Congress for better control of cyberacquisitions
Matters regarding the acquisition of foreign intelligence firms have crept into the Congressional debate of the 2023 National Defense Authorization
UNITED STATES/JAPAN : Japanese investigation market shakeup
According to our sources, a few days ago, the US investigation firm Nardello & Co's management strongly recommended that its
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Arcanum boss Ron Wahid draws even closer to Nazarbayev
Arcanum Global Intelligence director Ron Wahid, who remains closely linked to the interests of the former president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, recently cropped as a manager at the Nevada...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Sagard comple...es from Control Risks, Wychrij leaves Wallbrook, Quinlan, COSA
Paris - Sagard completes stake purchase of ADIT.ADIT and its investors, including Bpifrance and Parquest Capital, will today sign the
UAE/FRANCE : Macron woos Abu Dhabi leaders to save French cultural offshoots in Emirates
When Emmanuel Macron sat down between UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and his right-hand man Khaldoon al-Mubarak at a lavish dinner on 18 July in the Grand Trianon banqueting hall at t...
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Anglo-American ISR specialist sets up his own company
Anglo-American ISR specialist Jamie Meighan has set up his own company to assist companies and governments looking to improve their ability to carry out drone intelligence, surveillance and recon...
FRANCE/IRAQ/LEBANON/SYRIA : Amarante well placed for "failed states" Levant study contract
The international relations and strategy department (DGRIS) of the French armed forces ministry, which regularly organises long studies involving analysis
CHINA : Premier Li Keqiang's future to be decided in Beidaihe
President Xi Jinping had not been seen in public for more than ten days - proof of his arrival in
AUSTRALIA/EUROPE/UKRAINE : EU states push for Australia free-trade deal as reward for Ukraine support
While Beijing has since last week been issuing warnings about Australia developing the AUKUS programme aimed at equipping it with
UKRAINE : Ukraine presidency ally holds cards in naming new anti-corruption chiefs
The suspension on 17 July of Ukraine's chief prosecutor Irina Venediktova will now directly impact the naming of the new
TURKMENISTAN/TURKEY : Turkish energy tycoons target Caspian Sea projects
With the signing of the gas supply memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijan and the European Union on 18 July, Turkey
UNITED STATES/MEXICO : Washington tries to place its champion in battle for Mexican drone contract
Intelligence Online understands that the United States introduced a surprise guest in the form of Californian drone manufacturer AeroVironment in
Europe : EU counter-interference chief wants to create and head an European anti-fake news agency
Lutz Gullner, head of strategic communications at the European External Action Service (EEAS), has a meeting lined up in September
UNITED STATES : US's arms shipments to Ukraine putting pressure on CIA-Pentagon cooperation
On 20 July, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced an additional aid package including four new High Mobility Artillery
BAHRAIN/FRANCE/ISRAEL/ROMANIA : Domenach at the CNRLT, Mossad in Manama, Romanian cyber
Israel/Bahrain - First class of Manama spies complete course with Israeli intelligence. According to our sources, the officers of Bahrain's
SAUDI ARABIA : Veyron, the small communication firm on the rise alongside Mohammed bin Salman
In preparation for another mission for a Saudi government agency in the US, this time for the Saudi Data and
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ateca Consulting boosts cyber services for al-Maktoum royal family
Ateca Consulting is consolidating its alliance with a scion of the al-Maktoum family that rules Dubai by boosting its local
FRANCE : DGSE reform: The DR is dead, long live the DR !
The big reorganisation of the French external intelligence service, the DGSE, which was published by decree on 16 July, puts the finishing touches to months of internal change, which has been reg...
LEBANON/UNITED KINGDOM : Ark Group wins British contract to support Lebanese Armed Forces
Intelligence Online can reveal that Ark Group, a UAE-based company run by former British diplomat Alistair Harris, has been in
BELGIUM/CHINA : Belgium wants its intelligence services to keep tabs on Chinese investments
A report (which can be seen here, in French and Dutch) issued on 29 June by intelligence oversight body Comité
IRAN : Mohammad Kazemi already at work reorganising the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence service
Mohammad Kazemi, who replaced Hossein Taeb (IO, 27/06/22) as head of the intelligence service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
FRANCE : Tighter controls on the way over defence and intelligence officials switching to the private sector
The proposal arrived last month on the desk of Claire Legras, the head of legal affairs at the French armed
FRANCE : Le Zimmer, a Belle Époque cafe for artists and spies
As the sun goes down on a long, hot July day, pundits fill the seats outside the Zimmer, a central
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Ukrainian and Russian intelligence services keep close watch over Kerch Strait Bridge
Ukraine can now point to a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which was published on
UAE : From his top State Security seat, emir's son Khaled bin Mohammed prepares race for succession
Though it wasn't his first time chairing the board of the Abu Dhabi oil company ADNOC, Khaled bin Mohammed bin
UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : TSMC desperate for brain power as much as raw materials for microchips
To revive its highly strategic microchip diplomacy (IO, 07/02/22), the Taiwanese government has decided to allow private firms to sponsor
ISRAEL : Cyvera co-founder recasts as cyber intelligence expert with Incert Intelligence
Despite the difficulties of conducting cyber intelligence in Israel, the country abounds with specialist companies in the field. One such
FRANCE : French military intelligence tries to get back into battle order under new director
French public spending watchdog, the Cour des Comptes, published its annual report on the country's defence performance in July. The
UNITED STATES : Lawyers and investigators take on Johnson & Johnson in baby powder battle
The legal battle is in full swing between pharmaceuticals giant Johnson and Johnson and some 38,000 plaintiffs who claim the
RUSSIA : Russia focuses on increasingly strategic Arctic
Russian state nuclear conglomerate Rosatom is profiting from the extended monopoly the country's parliament granted it on 8 June for
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Beregini, the shadowy Ukrainian hacker group cheered by Russian intelligence
The small group of supposedly militant hackers, Beregini, has been gaining considerable attention in the Russian press despite the mystery surrounding
UNITED STATES : USCYBERCOM in search of zero-day provider
As its workload on the Russia-Ukraine conflict grows, the US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is on the hunt for a zero-day
DENMARK/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Anno.io, French navy, Keysight Technologies, XCI
Reston: Brain drain at Anno.io.Anno.io, the company set up by former CIA staffer Steven Witt (IO, 20/03/19), recently lost nearly
BANGLADESH/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : French firm Intersec beats US giant SS8 for Bangladeshi geolocation contract
According to our sources, the French geolocation specialist Intersec has won a €13m contract to provide a geopositioning system with five years of technical support to Bangladesh's technical in...
IRAQ : Talabani family feud hinders presidential negotiations
When it turned to the Independent High Electoral Commission in Baghdad on 11 July, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court stepped
FRANCE : AID seeds new information warfare capacities with Bloom
In its report on Russia's disinformation efforts published on 7 July, the US cyber threat intelligence company Recorded Future named
HONG KONG/BELARUS : Sarmat Analytix, a newcomer to the political risk market in the post-Soviet space
The co-founders of the Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies (CSFPS) think tank in Minsk are preparing to register
EUROPE/ISRAEL : Mossad trains European intel agents in open-source spy tools analysis
The Belgian, Italian and Spanish intelligence services have reportedly been approving, for at least a year, a new training programme
UNITED STATES : The background to Frank Holder's departure from JS Held
Consulting and investigations group JS Held and Frank Holder, who was its chief operating officer until the end of June,
UAE/FRANCE : SeaOwl challenges DCI on Gulf navy training
France's SeaOwl Group, a supplier to the French Navy, has pitched its VN Partisan and VN Rebel training vessels to
IRAN : Iranian shipping company IRISL plans to create new routes between Russia and India
Iran, which wants to see more north-south routes linking Russia and India via the Caspian Sea, is taking advantage of
UNITED STATES/MONGOLIA : K2 Integrity alone facing off former Mongolian Premier after King & Spalding withdrawal
Atlanta-based law firm King & Spalding is pulling out of a probe for Mongolian public prosecutor (PGOM) against former Prime Minister Sukhbaataryn Batbold, saying it could not take certain claims...
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : JS Held, Raedas, K2, Kic Systems, Exera
New York: Dookhie leaves K2 for NYU Ray Dookhie, MD of K2 Integrity (ex-K2 Intelligence) "investigations" division in New York
UNITED STATES/LIBYA/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-CIA agent Dan Hoffman joins CT Group in Washington
Daniel Hoffman, who was three times station chief, notably in China, in mid-July joined CT Group (formerly CTF Partners), an
FRANCE/KUWAIT : Paris and Kuwait City prepare launch of new business club
According to our sources, the French and Kuwaiti foreign ministries are discussing the creation of a business club to boost
RUSSIA : From Moscow to Ukraine, demand for Rosgvardia continues to grow
A key part of Russia's military ambitions in Ukraine, the Russian National Guard, Rosgvardia, is adapting its structure and deployment
UKRAINE : Kyiv remains determined to crack down on oligarchs despite war
After a very short respite in the first weeks of the war, Kyiv has resumed efforts to track down allegedly
ITALY : Negg sets out to conquer international market
The US bid to regulate the cyber-intelligence market by imposing sanctions on certain companies, such as NSO Group, has not
CHINA/EUROPE/UNITED STATES : Beijing and Airbus turn the page on commercial practices investigated by US Justice Department
The new order announced on 1 July that is being shared by four Chinese airlines - China Eastern Airlines, China Southern, Air China and its subsidiary, Shenzhen Airlines - brought to an end a lon...
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Legal trio leads Russian oligarchs' anti-sanction campaigns in Brussels
The flurry of legal challenges taken by Russian tycoons against European Union (EU) sanctions has been a blessing for the
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA : Isolated Moscow revives industrial and academic relations with Pyongyang
Faced with heavy sanctions from its traditional trade partners in the West, Russia has been increasingly active on the diplomatic
EGYPT/KAZAKHSTAN/UKRAINE : Egypt's IS troubles, Kazakhstan's National Guard, Ukraine's new Marines
Egypt: Military intel targeted by the local ISThe director of military intelligence (Moukhabarat al-Harbeya), Khaled Moujawer, has in recent weeks increased
RUSSIA : Moscow stirs up personal data hornet's nest
Of their steps to strengthen information security that Intelligence Online has been tracking (IO, 27/05/21, 12/07/21), the Russian authorities have
UNITED KINGDOM : British intelligence revamps in face of extreme right-wing terrorism
The British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee report on extreme right-wing terrorism published on 13 July - which also touches
IRAQ : GardaWorld retains FCDO security mega-contract in Iraq
Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) published on 8 July the award notice of a £46.8m (€55.4m) security contract to
UAE/FRANCE : Abu Dhabi at the heart of Macron's sovereign reindustrialisation plans
On the sidelines of the visit to Paris of Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, aka MbZ, on 18 and 19 July,
AUSTRALIA : After Azimuth, Mark Dowd returns to vulnerability research with Vigilant Labs
Earlier this month, with support from Senegalese vulnerability researcher Amat Cama, Mark Dowd, a co-founder of Australian cyber-intelligence firm Azimuth
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Zelensky faced difficult choice over his spymaster and childhood friend Ivan Bakanov
There had already been talk among Ukraine's security services of Ivan Bakanov's possible dismissal as head of the national intelligence agency, the SBU - the fact was even reported by Politico on...
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Naval Group shakes up Riyadh office
According to our information, Naval Group, already in the midst of an internal overhaul, will soon appoint a new director
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Russian banks pursue the assets of Mints magnate family in New York
On 1 July, New York's Southern District court granted the application made by Russian state-controlled lenders Otkritie and National Bank
IRAN : Ali Shamkhani grows more powerful after dismissal of Hossein Taeb
Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) boss Ali Shamkhani discussed bilateral cooperation with his Armenian counterpart Armen Grigoryan when he visited
EUROPE/FRANCE/RUSSIA : French lawyer Grand d'Esnon leads Alisher Usmanov's fight against EU sanctions
Of all the business magnates accused by the EU, British and American authorities of being close to the Kremlin and
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US State Department gets budget for Chinese counter-influence in Indo-Pacific
While the war in Ukraine is the focus of the new US State Department budget, introduced in Congress at the
DENMARK : Hotel Phoenix provides a royal refuge for the Danish crown's secret agents
With its low-key, French classical style facade, the building is a good illustration of the taste of the Danish elite
UKRAINE : Kyrylo Budanov, the ex-commando who's the star of Kyiv's military intelligence
Since the start of the war, Chef of the Defence Intelligence of the GUR in Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, has become
SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES/POLAND : US and South Korea move closer to a common nuclear power plants bid against France's EDF
American nuclear group Westinghouse and its South Korean counterpart, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), are considering, according to our
FRANCE : Former French space commander Friedling founds own space surveillance company
French air force general Michel Friedling, who retired from his post as head of France's inter-army space command on 1
CHINA : China launches new training programme for its officers
All high school graduates for the year 2022 who passed the gaokao, the standardised national entrance examination for Chinese universities,
SYRIA : Aleppo transport magnate Fares al-Shihabi sees chance to shake up sector
After damage from alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus International Airport forced carriers to shift flights away from the capital to
FRANCE : French geolocation specialist Sysnav tests its systems in the US
The systems developed by French start-up Sysnav are currently being tested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
ISRAEL : Anti-disinformation specialist Intercept 9500 weaves own web of contacts
The Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) provider Majestic Technologies plans to be in Singapore to present its big data analytics
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL : DGA gets new smartp... CTI with US; Turner heads Dragos ANZ; Elimelech joins Paragon
Bruz - DGA acquires new supplies of telephones. The DGA Maîtrise de l'information (DGA-MI), the branch of the French military
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Israeli cyber sector in turmoil following abandonment of L3Harris-NSO takeover talks
The abandonment of the talks taking place between US defence electronics and communications giant L3Harris and former Israeli tactical interceptions market leader NSO Group, as reported by the Ne...
EUROPE : EU seeking counter-terror experts for Central Asia programme
The European Union is struggling to recruit the security specialists it needs to train allies in the strategic Central Asian
FRANCE : Carbon 01 markets low-cost airborne intelligence systems
A few weeks ago, the French firm Carbon 01 signed a deal with the Danish environmental protection imagery firm Phase
RUSSIA : Small legislative revolutions in store for Russia's private security sector
For the past few days the State Duma, Russia's national assembly, has been examining a bill presented by its authors
DENMARK : Navigate Public Affairs unsettles its competitors on the Danish defence market
In private, competitors speak with some anxiety about Navigate Public Affairs with its consultants, who lunch regularly with their former
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : K...Al Ula, International SOS, Caspar-Fille-Lambie, from CRG to EY
New York: K2 waits for payment by ExWorksThe creditors of investment firm ExWorks Capital are going to spend a large
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv goes after FSB's mole recruitment unit
The hunt for agents working for Russia in Ukraine since the start of the invasion (IO, 07/03/22) has intensified in
KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan's oil and gas sectors in turmoil amid tensions with Moscow over Caspian
Uneasiness is growing among Kazakhstan's oil groups after the brief suspension by a Russian court on 6 July of the
FRANCE : Between Avisa and French intelligence services, it's complicated
Following the publication of an article in Mediapart on 27 June on the online influence activities of Avisa Partners, particularly for foreign governments, company CEO Matthieu Creux reassured hi...
UNITED KINGDOM : Hakluyt opens up in Canada after the United States and Dubai
Thanks to its recent recruitment of Christopher Alexander, who was Canadian citizenship and immigration minister from 2013 to 2015, Hakluyt
CHINA/TAIWAN : Taiwan's intelligence services try to alert Europe to China's invasion plans
Taiwan is convinced that Chinese President Xi Jinping is determined to try to take over the country, and believes an
FRANCE/SYRIA : French foreign ministry crisis centre spearheads repatriation operation
Stéphane Romatet, the director of the French foreign ministry's crisis and support centre, the CDCS (Centre de Crise et de
UAE/INDONESIA : Faris Al Mazrouei's Calidus plays star role in Indonesia-UAE defence relationship
Faris Al Mazrouei, the head of Calidus - the UAE company at the heart of defence industry cooperation with Indonesia
UAE/UNITED STATES : Drone firm Shield AI makes push in Abu Dhabi
The US drone maker Shield AI opened an international office in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and has quickly made
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Anti-corruption controls carried out on US weapons deliveries to Ukraine
After approving fresh aid to Ukraine, despite some concerns internally (IO, 11/07/22), Washington has decided to give in to the demands of some officials that Kyiv provide stronger guarantees abo...
IRAQ : Sirwan Barzani and his telephone operator Korek have applied to a US court for discovery
With the final sessions in the arbitration case between telephone operator Korek Telecom and Iraq Telecom, a joint venture formed
INDONESIA : Jakarta cancels and scales back major defence contracts as raw materials crisis deepens
According to our sources, the Indonesian navy is soon expected to announce its plans to review and renegotiate a contract
FRANCE : DGSE heard in Amesys case
Over the past few months, three former officers of France's foreign intelligence services, the DGSE, have been heard by lawyers
UNITED STATES/JORDAN : New viceroy in Amman, ODNI and DCSA help tech industry
Jordan - Abdullah II secures his clan Jordan is abuzz with speculation following King Abdullah II's appointment of his younger brother
RUSSIA/VATICAN : War in Ukraine: Vatican and Patriarch of Moscow rally their networks
There has been a flurry of media attention over Pope Francis's 4 July announcement of his intention to visit Moscow
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Belarus's KGB administers caution on intelligence cooperation with Russia
Representatives of the KGB, Belarus's sole intelligence agency, held a working meeting with officers of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : Macron to woo Gulf sovereign wealth funds at Choose France summit
Organisers of Choose France, a summit created by Emmanuel Macron to promote French economic "attractiveness" in its fifth year, expected
INDIA/RUSSIA : Russian defence conglomerate Rostec seeks help from Indian offset partners
Rostec, the state conglomerate that oversees Russia's military industry, has recently contacted a number of Indian companies about supplying engineers
UAE/FRANCE : Reem Lababidi crafts Franco-Emrati cyber contracts
IMTI, a French firm that helps cybersecurity companies break into Gulf markets, is poised to represent several new French cyber
UNITED STATES : US intelligence community's realism about Ukraine gains traction in White House
More than four months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Avril Haines, the US Director of National Intelligence, expressed pessimism in a press conference organised by the Department of Commerce...
FRANCE : French intelligence community seeks closer contact with justice ministry
The DGSE is looking to step up its cooperation with the anti-terrorist national prosecutor, the Parquet National Antiterroriste (PNAT) so
ISRAEL : Claro restaurant, a former Mossad outpost turned lunchtime favourite for cyberexperts
In the heart of Tel Aviv's newly restored Sarona neighbourhood, once a German settlement dating back to 1881, housed in
KAZAKHSTAN : The Bolashak Consulting Group, a senior Kazakh official talent incubator
The multiple legal battles waged by the government of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before international courts - such as the one against
CHINA : Xi Jinping using Le Yucheng to push Washington to reduce sanctions on China
Rather than a sanction, the demoting of Le Yucheng, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 14 June, might be more
PAKISTAN : Army chief Qamer Javed Bajwa wants more time to improve relations with Saudi Arabia
Pakistan's army chief of staff Qamer Javed Bajwa is trying to negotiate a two-year extension of his term of office,
BRAZIL/CHINA : China's CCCC consolidates its position in Brazil with massive new investment
The BRICS summit on 23 June took place by video conference, but this did not prevent Chinese President Xi Jinping
EUROPE : Frontex renews arrangement with ISR suppliers
In a new maritime surveillance framework deal unveiled on 28 June, the European border agency Frontex is sticking with suppliers
FRANCE : The delicate succession of French spymaster Patrick Pailloux
Patrick Pailloux is poised to step down as head of the technical directorate, or DT, of the DGSE, France's external
CHINA/FRANCE : The influencers on the mailing list of the Chinese embassy in France
When Chinese ambassador in France Lu Shaye wants to distribute information about China's ethnical policy or the recent development of
MOLDOVA : Moldova's new spy chief takes up duties in a climate of high tension
Alexandru Musteata ended his round of introductions to Moldova's different institutions with a speech on 17 June to young recruits
AFGHANISTAN/EUROPE/FRANCE : French security company Amarante strengthens its EU support team in Afghanistan
The European External Action Service (EEAS) amended its contract with French private security firm Amarante International on 30 June, according
UAE/PAKISTAN : Bristol Engineering Service, the Pakistani deep state's Emirati relay
The Pakistani government's June announcement that it will increase its defence budget by a further 6% should come as good
FRANCE/SINGAPORE/EUROPEAN UNION : Infinite Orbits moves up from satellite maintenance to high orbit space surveillance
Franco-Singaporean start-up Infinite Orbits (IO), which is currently developing its satellite life extension and space surveillance services, is preparing to
DENMARK/UNITED STATES/FINLAND/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Barka...E, Danish satnav obsolete, Johnston leaves Creativity Software
Herzliya - XM Cyber hires ex-Mossad/wanted man Zev Barkan.Ex-Mossad chief Tamir Pardo's cybersecurity firm XM Cyber announced that it had
UNITED KINGDOM : London unnerved by proposed Ultra Electronics buyout
All eyes have been on the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's public consultation on the proposed acquisition of defence company Ultra Electronics Holdings by fellow Brit...
VIETNAM : Public security minister To Lam orchestrates the score-settling in ongoing anti-corruption drive
Speculation is rife in Hanoi over the rivalry between prime minister Pham Minh Chinh and public security minister To Lam.
FRANCE : Comcyber picks all-in-one command and control platform favourites
Of the projects selected for the military cyber operations command centre section of France's Grand Défi de la Cybersécurité, a
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Besancenot's connections lead to Saudi cultural diplomacy contract for ESL Network
According to our sources, the Saudi ministry of foreign affairs has chosen the corporate intelligence firm ESL Network to oversee
UAE/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ardian, Namea, legionnaires, Alaco, GEOS
Paris: French foreign office's Middle East head joins ArdianThe head of the French foreign affairs ministry's Middle East division within
UNITED KINGDOM : G3 reorganises its international offices network
After having moved its London head office from its town house in George Street to nearby Portland Place in Marylebone,
UKRAINE : Kyiv confirms space sector as a national security priority
The space sector, which was already a key area for Ukraine before the Russian invasion, is set to become one
SOUTH KOREA/INDIA/JAPAN : Prospect of NATO presence in Indo-Pacific region creates havoc in the Quad
Japan is planning to follow the example of South Korea, which announced on 22 June that it would open a
CENTRAL ASIA/TURKEY : Turkish armoured vehicle producers target Central Asian market
The military vehicle manufacturer Otokar, which is part of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Koc Holding, is currently extensively exploring Central
BRAZIL/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Black Cube's methods revealed against backdrop of Lava Jato operation
For its arbitration against former partner Silmar Roberto Bertin, the Brazilian construction group Equipav (formerly Empate Engenharia), which has been asking the court of the Southern District o...
LEBANON/PALESTINE/SYRIA : Hamas negotiates its return to Damascus from Beirut
Hamas is competing in a tight race to gain the support of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, a country in
RUSSIA : Internal rivalries rage in Russian presidential administration
The war in Ukraine has triggered divisions in the Kremlin, in which Sergey Kirienko, the first deputy director of the
FRANCE : Administrative delays and cumbersome controls: the CNCTR calls lawmakers to account
The publication on 4 July of the annual report of the National Commission for the Supervision of Intelligence Techniques (CNCTR)
UAE/RUSSIA : Dubai's Sharaf clan helps Russia to ship its oil to India
State-owned Russian shipping group Sovcomflot has little by little concentrated the bulk of its crude oil transport business on India.
FRANCE : Who will shoulder the interior ministry to ensure the 2024 Paris Olympics' cybersecurity?
With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching fast, the French interior ministry is stepping up its efforts to secure the games.
FRANCE : Strong push for French arms sales' reform made in new military spending law
Intelligence Online can reveal that the legal arm of the French armed forces ministry (DAJ) is working on a new legislative framework for a "government-to-government" (GtoG) arms sales model, bas...
UNITED STATES : JS Held says unexpected goodbye to chief operating officer Frank Holder
Just one year after he took charge of the new investigations practice at the JS Held consulting group, industry veteran
RUSSIA : Russian high tech boss sees his political influence and business empire grow
At the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum which took place from 15 to 18 June, Boris Nuraliev, the founder and
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : NATO rethinks its rapid reaction plans
While the 29-30 June summit allowed NATO to highlight both its new strategic roadmap and new investments and deployment locations,
UNITED KINGDOM : Armed security consultants give evidence to UK government's Wagner inquiry
Last week the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee decided to publish written evidence about the Russian galaxy of para-military firms Wagner
EGYPT/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/PORTUGAL/RUSSIA : Cairo shifts v...uguese military, ex-FSO to Russian Security Council, CIA moles
Egypt/Syria: Cairo shifts position on Syria's return to Arab League According to our sources, Egypt is now opposed to Syria's
UAE/FRANCE : TotalEnergies and ADNOC push for French-UAE investors high committee
According to our sources, Patrick Pouyanné, the CEO of TotalEnergies, and Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the CEO of the Abu
BELGIUM/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Paris, Brussels and London strengthen their intelligence cooperation in the Channel
The British Home Office is creating a new director of international operations post in its Immigration Enforcement department, according to
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Gemini Advisory spearheads Recorded Future push into ex-USSR zone cyberspace
The Intelligence Fund, the $20m investment arm of US intelligence specialist Recorded Future, doubled its investment in the startup Cyber
FRANCE : DGSE draws up French military appropriations bill wish list
Ahead of a meeting of the defence and national security council at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, the defence ministry's intelligence services that are interested by the military appropriations ...
EUROPE/LITHUANIA/RUSSIA : Kaliningrad: Moscow increasingly tempted by Suwalki Corridor option
Russia's top political leaders have held a number of meetings recently to deal with the country's deteriorating relations with Vilnius
ITALY : Elisabetta Belloni observes a diplomatic silence after the storm over her presidential candidature
After having been appointed with great pomp a year ago as head of the Dipartimento delle Informazioni per la Sicurezza
BULGARIA : Bulgarian-Turkish oligarch Ahmet Dogan hastens to shed VIP assets
Ahmet Demir Dogan, also known as Ahmed Demir Dogan, is looking for a buyer for his yacht Agatha. Priced at
EUROPE : Le Plux, Brussels' NATO information goldmine for spies
Not a week goes by without Paul Avallone, the director of the NATO Office of Security (NOS), in charge of
ARMENIA/CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA/BELARUS : Russia pushes for defence focus within Eurasia's block
According to our sources, the Kremlin is understood to be working on the creation of an information and analysis centre
OMAN : Al Naamani, still at Oman's security helm, tries to save Yemen ceasefire
Oman's spymaster Mohammed Al Naamani (IO, 22/07/21) is currently leading secret negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels to extend
RUSSIA : Ruselectronics at centre of Russian Safe City monitoring programme
Russia's fast-tracked Safe City programme is keeping the order books full at defence conglomerate Rostec, particularly at its subsidiary Ruselectronics.
FRANCE : Deveryware taken to French employment tribunal by Oak Branch founder Fanch Francis
French company Deveryware, headed by Jacques Salognon, has been taken to a French employment tribunal by Oak Branch founder Fanch
EUROPE/UKRAINE : Argus provides protection for European diplomats still present in Kyiv
The European Union's European External Action Service (EEAS), which is determined to maintain a presence in Kyiv, gave Argus Co.,
TURKEY : With elections due next year, Erdogan has ensured his allies stay in charge of the security forces
With the next parliamentary and presidential elections due in June 2023, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is looking to cover
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : Sekoia at c...byrinth, Group-IB loses cyber chief, Hytera without consultant
Paris - Sekoia joins Thales on Big Challenge CTI project.According to our sources, French cybersecurity company Sekoia is part of
GERMANY : Germany tightens the screws on control of domestic intelligence
Germany's domestic intelligence service, the BfV, will shortly fall under the control of a supervisory authority, Intelligence Online has learnt.
INDIA : Offset specialist Rajiv Chib wants to assist more French defence groups in New Delhi
Rajiv Chib and his company Insighteon Consulting Partners were on view on 15 June at a conference organised by corporate
ITALY : Dataflow Security tracks down vulnerabilities for Europe's cyber intelligence companies
Italian company Dataflow Security, which sponsored the Warcon cyber security conference which took place in Poland on 24 and 25
CHINA/UAE/UNITED STATES : Abu Dhabi's AI champion at crux of Sino-US cross-interest
On 6 June the Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI), the artificial intelligence research arm of the UAE's conglomerate Group 42 (G42), signed a research partnership with US start...
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russian army high command reviews its strategic plan in Ukraine
Although Kyiv has said in the last few days that missile attacks on Kharkiv and Mykolaiv are becoming more intensive,
UAE/FRANCE : CybelAngel targets sovereign UAE market from new Dubai base
The Paris and Boston-based data leak detection firm CybelAngel has planted a flag in Dubai, opening an outpost there earlier
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Wallbrook, Ankura in ...stigation, Alaco ditches security, Axiantis hires Egypt expert
Washington - Ankura close to Biden administration.Ankura Consulting, which is active in corporate intelligence, has a new in with US
UNITED STATES : Guidepost supports Cognizant in case against its former general counsel accused of corruption
A court in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) rejected a complaint filed by the computer company Cognizant against
UNITED STATES : K2 expert and JS Held come to SEC's aid in case against Queens real estate tycoon
According to our sources, the financial investigator Raymond Dookhie, of K2 Integrity, formerly K2 Intelligence, is helping the Securities and
RUSSIA : Rosgvardia, a critical force for Moscow, faces its losses in Ukraine
Russia's national guard, Rosgvardia, which was heavily involved in the early days of the country's war on Ukraine, is having
KAZAKHSTAN : Internal intelligence service sifts through the Nazarbayev clan
The formal confirmation on 22 June that Kazakhstan's internal intelligence service, the KNB, has opened an investigation into its own
UNITED STATES/GREECE : Athens ready to follow Washington's line on nuclear energy
Given the way Russia's war on Ukraine is evolving, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is working to realign the country's
UAE/IRAN : Fallout over scrapped oil contract exposes Iran's fallen oil tsar in US
Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the man who ran Iran's oil ministry from 1997 to 2005, was summoned to Tehran's criminal court in early June. This is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between C...
CHINA/HONG KONG : Xi to change Hong Kong's name to South Shenzhen under transformation plan
Xi Jinping's planned visit to Hong Kong on 1 July will not just serve to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russia and Ukraine expose each other's intelligence agents in their efforts to win propaganda war
The intense propaganda war that Russian and Ukrainian security services are waging with support from different state bodies (IO, 25/02/22,
FRANCE : Battle begins to equip army's tactical drones with intelligence equipment
At the end of the year, the French army is set to receive its first tactical drone system (SDT) manufactured
UAE/RUSSIA : Armoured vehicle maker Streit symbolises Russia-UAE defence industry ties
At the recent Eurosatory defence and security trade fair in Paris, Streit Group displayed its Spartan armoured vehicle and, according
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Nobel Upstream, an Azerbaijani refuge for former Rosneft and BP Russia specialists
Taking advantage of European countries' growing attraction to Caspian Sea energy suppliers, the Azerbaijani holding company Neqsol, which specialises in
UAE : Digital14 poised for takeover by Edge Group
According to our sources, Emirati technology conglomerate Edge Group is poised to take over Digital14 (D14). The cybersecurity firm, headed
SAUDI ARABIA : SAMI, AEC, Alsalam: Newton at heart of best-kept secrets of state arms group's defence contracts
American lawyer John Vincent Lonsberg is now seen more than ever as the man dealing with the most secretive defence contracts in Saudi Arabia. From his vantage point as Chief Legal Counsel of Sau...
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Cornerstone and Nathalie Goulet foster UAE's connections with French senate
French senator Nathalie Goulet, a specialist on jihadism, presented her book "The ABC of Terrorism Finance", published by Le Cherche
UZBEKISTAN : With new monopoly, National Guard eats further into SGB's powers
Signed on 16 June by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the law on private security activities strengthened the powers of the state
FRANCE : ADIT goes after Sofema and DCI
According to our sources, French corporate intelligence group ADIT, led by Philippe Caduc, is negotiating with the main shareholders of
FRANCE/IRAN/LIBYA : Hossein Taeb dismissed, DGSE gets Tripo...lla, DRM celebrates 30th anniversary, New narrative in Belarus
Iran - Tehran's Pasdaran spymaster on the way outThe head of intelligence of the Revolutionary Guards Corps - the Pasdaran
SYRIA : Damascus' red tape tactics to keep watch on Syrians aboard
The Syrian embassy in France, which has been reduced to just its consular services, has published a guide detailing how
RUSSIA : The siloviki's three-part plan for Kaliningrad
Russia's General Staff and Ministry of Defence have, according to our sources, begun to explore various possible iterations of a
CHINA : Princelings' family interests under scrutiny ahead of CCP Congress
While they focus on who will be moving into which role after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
UAE/FRANCE : MbZ expected in Paris to talk investments with Macron
The new Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ), will,
SOUTH KOREA/FRANCE : South Korean intelligence eyes up Aleph Networks' cyber tools
The South Korean delegation initially made contact with Aleph Networks at the Eurosatory trade fair, which was held between 13
RUSSIA : The Old Believers, Russia's informal diplomats in the Vatican
Pope Francis has been walking a diplomatic tightrope in Rome over the past few weeks, condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine but at the same time remarking that Ukrainian and Western may themselv...
ITALY : Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II, the Italian security establishment's favourite school
On the right bank of the Tiber, in Rome's Della Vittoria district, just a stone's throw from the upscale Prati
INDIA : Samant Kumar Goel, the man taking Indian intelligence to the world stage
Although his mandate at the helm of the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) is due to end on 30 June,
YEMEN : Yemeni presidential council leader Rashad Al Alimi launches military security apparatus project
According to our sources Rashad Al Alimi, the head of Yemen's presidential council - an initiative supported by Riyadh and
QATAR/SYRIA : Ba'ath Party lawyer fails to prosecute Qatar for financing Syrian opposition
In a ruling handed down on 7 June, the Queen's Bench Division of the London High Court closed a case
UAE/RUSSIA : Russian spatial imagery experts escape to Abu Dhabi
Intelligence Online's sources say that Vladimir Gershenzon and Olga Gershenzon, the couple behind leading Russian spatial imagery and ground stations firm
FRANCE : Metabug teams up with state research entity
In signing a partnership agreement with France's defence innovation agency (AID) on 13 June at the Parisian defence exhibition Eurosatory,
NORTH KOREA/EUROPE : Pyongyang tries its luck in Brussels again
North Korea has, according to our sources, recently rekindled its push for opening an embassy in Brussels with gusto. The
JORDAN : Black Mountain, Jordanian conglomerate TAG's cybersecurity outpost in the Gulf
In early June, Nozomi Networks, a leading Californian operational technology security company, became the latest US player to join the
IRAQ : Yazidis hire Washington lobbyist as battle against Barzanis continues
Nallein Sowilo, the Yazidi representative in the United States, on 9 June hired the consultant and defender of minorities Patrick
SAUDI ARABIA : A notable absence: Saudi Arabia's Land Forces Commander was not at Eurosatory
Intelligence Online understands that Commander Lt. Gen. Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF),
DENMARK : Copenhagen bumps up funding on intelligence service's cyber units
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste (FE) has seen its units' budgets increase across the board over the past
CHINA/EUROPE/QATAR : Gas-hungry Europeans watch as Qatar and China talk supplies
On 8 June, the Italian major ENI sealed a hard-won deal with Qatar's national oil company QatarEnergy (QE) to be
UAE/SPAIN/UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ISRAEL : Rayzone founder goe...in the EU, AmCham Abu Dhabi cloud, EU maritime security GEOINT
Tel Aviv - Rayzone co-founder Ron Zilka goes solo.Earlier this month, Ron Zilka, one of the co-founders of the Israeli
ITALY : Ever on the offensive, bitCorp moves into secure communications
Intelligence Online understands that the Italian cyber-intelligence company bitCorp has recently been working to obtain funding from the Horizon Europe
FRANCE : Crackdown on disinformation drives race for OSINT tools in France
While the French government may be all guns blazing on the launch of several major open source intelligence programmes (OSINT), the country's few OSINT players are worried US or Israeli developer...
UNITED KINGDOM : British investigators flock south to Florida Eldorado
Cameron Colquhoun, the CEO of the intelligence and cybersecurity firm Neon Century, is reportedly about to open an office in
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Nardello, Alaco, JS Held, GPW
New York: Nardello seeks new London bureau chief Two years after joining the London office of the New York corporate
UNITED KINGDOM : Elizabeth Cresswell's private security empire takes shape
The British human resources adviser to British Army veterans, Elizabeth Cresswell, is working on building a small network of multi-functional private
UKRAINE : Kyiv stands tall at international defence fairs despite war
The delegation representing Kyiv's Ministry of Defence, which held a stand in the large G851 placement at the Eurosatory defence
ISRAEL : Change of control at NSO's rival in strategic market Quadream
Guy Geva and Nimrod Reznik, two co-founders of Israeli cyber intelligence company Quadream who held a significant stake in the
CENTRAL ASIA/UNITED STATES : Ex-US ambassador helping Caspian oil traders make waves in Washington
Since signing on as a lobbyist for the Geneva-based Greater Caspian Association in May, former US diplomat Matthew Bryza is now, according to our sources, considering the registration of the orga...
CAMBODIA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : How Beijing patiently laid the groundwork for its naval base in Cambodia
The official confirmation by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on 8 June of its involvement in the restructuring of the
UKRAINE : Kyiv's patchwork of anti-disinformation initiatives struggles to unite
The information war, at the heart of Ukraine's counter-offensive strategy, has attracted a plethora of players keen to contribute to
CHINA/UKRAINE : Beijing's failure to get to grips with the Ukrainian crisis is leading it to seek outside help
While all Chinese attempts to influence the war in Ukraine have failed, Beijing's security diplomacy and intelligence officials are, according
BELARUS : Western intelligence services keeping close eye on growing threat of civil war in Belarus
Tension is mounting over the threat of armed conflict in Belarus as Minsk security officials and exiled opposition leaders (IO,
GERMANY/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : How a cyber provider to Russia conglomerates continues to operate in the US and Germany
Vladimir Putin's decree on 14 June to grant mathematician and former KGB officer Andrey Chapchaev the Order For Merit to
SAUDI ARABIA/EGYPT/FRANCE/SWEDEN/UKRAINE : Paris juggles demand for MMP missiles for Ukraine and for export
According to our sources, Paris finally delivered MMP medium-range missiles made by the European consortium MBDA to Kyiv in recent
FRANCE : Safran overtakes L3 in the final stretch to win French spy plane camera contract
As forecast by Intelligence Online (IO, 22/04/22), a first Vador aerial reconnaisssance aircraft began operating for France's military intelligence service,
FRANCE : ChapsVision and Thales take charge of Grand Cyber's CTI component
The Smart CTI consortium, led by French big data analysis specialist ChapsVision, and a grouping led by French defence electronics
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Kyiv wants encrypted satellite communications channel from Washington
On 15 June, a trio of advisers mandated by Ukraine's national security and defence council, the RNBO, sealed a deal with Quantum Technologies Laboratories, a New York-based developer founded and ...
SAUDI ARABIA : Emad Krimly, the engineer behind the scenes on Neom mega project
With the teams now all set up for his many Vision 2030 projects, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/FRANCE : Riyadh and Abu Dhabi scout for drones at Eurosatory
According to our sources, the Saudi General Authority for Military Industry sent out a team from Saudi Arabian Military Industries
UNITED KINGDOM : 'King of Mining' Ian Hannam runs into opposition for his investment in defence sector
Star mining sector banker Ian Hannam has started to establish himself in Turkey, where he became at the end of
FRANCE : French military counter-espionage service set for a new director
Stephane Dupont, the commander of French forces in Djibouti, is set to take over as head of France's military counter-intelligence
CHINA/KAZAKHSTAN/LEBANON/EUROPEAN UNION : EU counter-espion...anese intelligence and drug trafficking, new KNB vice director
European Union: Commission ramps up counter-intelligenceThe European Commission is taking espionage threats to European institutions more and more seriously. Dick
NORTH KOREA/RUSSIA : Pyongyang in talks with Moscow on access to Donbass
Last month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgoulov, who oversees relations with Asia, presided over a series of meetings between
BELGIUM : Government and intelligence regulator clash over interception law reform
In reading between the lines of the latest activity report published by Belgium's intelligence oversight body Comité R in June,
FRANCE/TURKEY : Ankara sets its sights on French aeronautical SMEs at Eurosatory trade fair
Intelligence Online understands that the Turkish defence agency Savunma Sanayii Baskanligi (SSB), which is responsible for the country's military acquisitions
ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN/EUROPE/RUSSIA : Caucasian intelligence keeps watch on para-diplomacy initiative for Karabakh conciliation
In the next few days, Tbilisi will host a dozen Azerbaijani and Armenian "civil society figures" in search of a solution to the two countries' long-running dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, the regi...
CHINA : China Foreign Affairs University canteen provides fine fare for security chiefs and diplomats
In the centre of Beijing, a short walk from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, as well as the Foreign
AFGHANISTAN : Haqqani Network threatens to break away from main Taliban movement with Pakistani backing
Intelligence Online understands that a latent split in the Taliban movement has come to light following a meeting in Kabul
IRAQ : Cerbair's anti-drone system sparks interest of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service
Iraqi Ground Forces commander Qasim Muhammad Salih and his deputy were in Paris from 13 to 15 June for the
FRANCE/QATAR : Cyber policing experts jostle for Qatar World Cup security contract
According to our information, a Qatari delegation discreetly discussed matters relating to cybersecurity for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with
SINGAPORE : Tsan Chan ready to propel Singaporean cyber policy forward
After overseeing Singapore's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the fledgling Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), created in 2019,
SWITZERLAND : Huawei's French strategic affairs director heads to CyberPeace Institute in Geneva
Just over a year after joining Huawei as head of government affairs and security in France, Vincent de Crayencour is
UAE/FRANCE : Technip's bill from its former agent in Abu Dhabi continues to soar
Despite a decision from the UAE's final appeal court last December (IO, 16/02/21), the legal battle between Technip France, now
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/INDIA/JAPAN : US uses Quad fellowship as brain gain ploy in the face of China
When Quad partners Australia, India, Japan and the United States kicked off their fellowship scheme in Tokyo on 24 May,
AFRICA/GERMANY/BALKANS : Berlin and Oslo seek experts to help boost financial intelligence in the Balkans and Africa
Earlier this month, German development agency GIZ started looking for private contractors to train the financial intelligence and police services
SINGAPORE : Hikvision's strategically sensitive video surveillance contracts in Singapore under threat
The US Treasury Department's announcement on 4 May that it was imposing new sanctions on China's Hikvision group has put
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Muslim World League back in Washington ahead of Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia
On 2 June, the Muslim World League (MWL) registered the PR firm BGR Government Affairs in the register of foreign
UNITED STATES : Ex-Marine exploit hunters launch P3F
At a time when the US has been highlighting the use of its cyber capabilities, P3F is one of a
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : ChapsVision, MissionLinks, Peraton
Paris - Former Nexa chief Renaud Roques joins ChapsVision. Renaud Roques, former director of the French interceptions firm Nexa, has
ISRAEL : Dataflow Security and Rayzone poach key staff from troubled NSO
On top of dealing with its fair share of legal pressures, bad press and cash flow issues as it prepares for sale (IO, 14/06/22), the Israeli tactical interceptions specialist NSO Group, led by Sh...
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Freighter allegedly owned by Russian defence bank muddies the water in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer
Russian-flagged freighter Baltic Leader, which has been stranded in the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer since 26 February, is continuing to
UAE : Former FinFisher boss gives boost to Abu Dhabi's new rising star
The German cyber-offensive veteran Carlos Hugo Gandini is, according to our sources, one of the consultants providing his expertise to
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Nicholas Pomeroy guides mining and oil companies through Kazakh Steppes
Central Asia has recently become the focus of Western energy companies pulling out of Russia since the imposition of British,
PALESTINE : Hussein Al Sheikh, Mahmoud Abbas' protege, shakes up succession predictions
While rumours continue to swirl in Ramallah about the declining health of Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas, 87, his
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-CIA official launc...m, RosettiStarr, Davra Consulting, Avisa loses ethics chairman
Washington - Ex-CIA official Ameer Shalaby launches intelligence tradecraft consultancyAmeer Shalaby retired as a CIA official earlier this year and
SAUDI ARABIA : Cyberhawk in pole position for aerial surveillance work at Neom megacity project
British drone surveillance company Cyberhawk has joined the ranks of the companies looking to win contracts on Saudi Arabia's Neom
BULGARIA/UNITED STATES/GREECE : US State Department oversees restructuring of southern European energy market
The need to restructure the European energy market in the wake of the war in Ukraine and the programmed end
ITALY/QATAR : Friction between Rome and ENI in European race for non-Russian gas
As France seeks to establish itself and TotalEnergies as the main European contact offering countries alternative supplies to Russian oil
UAE/FRANCE : Sylvain Vieujot, the richest Frenchman in Dubai, caught up in dynastic power struggle
Seif Fikry, the Egyptian CEO of private equity firm Chimera Capital is, according to our sources, suing Emirates REIT, a real estate investment trust (REIT) of the Dubai-based holding company Equ...
AFGHANISTAN/CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA : Central Asian spymasters want to return Russia's focus to Afghanistan
Four days before the European Union and Central Asia special envoys for Afghanistan met in Almaty on 31 May, there
FRANCE : Tracfin to speed up cryptocurrency investigations with private help
France's financial intelligence service Tracfin is looking for a head of capacity development to strengthen its operational and technical ability
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Phalanx v CSI : Saudi Arabian FMS deal dogged by commission battle
The Texan demining firm Critical Solutions International (CSI) is facing fresh legal action from its former Saudi Arabia agent Phalanx
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Has French self-driving shuttle firm Navya fallen victim to the Neom mirage?
Navya, the start-up co-founded by Bruno Bonnell, a former deputy for France's La République en Marche party, who is close
RUSSIA : Security Vision, the Kremlin cyber protection unit's faithful provider
Although Russian intelligence's cyber units are highly protective of who has access to their information systems, they are still using
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : L3's plan to acquire Israeli cyber specialist NSO
While negotiating its restructuring, Israeli cyber specialist NSO Group has moved closer to a deal with US defence electronics and communications equipment giant L3Harris, with a view to being bo...
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Akhmetov hires ex-diplomats to spearhead anti-Moscow offensive in Washington
British ex-diplomat Jonathan Gimblett is spearheading the battle to recognise Russia's responsibility for damage to Ukrainian magnate Rinat Akhmetov's assets
UNITED STATES/JORDAN : US defence industry's Jordanian agent Bassam Pharaon returns to the fray
Clayton International had until Monday to file an amendment to his complaint against his competitor Nebraska Armes Aviation. At the
FRANCE : Secretive military intelligence unit Paros targets Islamic militants for elimination
The position is yet to be filled, but the next liaison officer for inter-army research and human intelligence centre CI3RH
UKRAINE : Ukrainian parliament gives priority to debate on military intelligence revamp
The new entity to be set up to take charge of military intelligence work - that may include military counter-espionage
IRAQ : Peshmerga and Baghdad's spymasters take steps to improve intelligence sharing
The deputy head of Joint Operations Command for Iraq and director general of intelligence, Abdul Amir Al Shammari, received a
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/GEORGIA/PALESTINE/TURKEY : CIA, Georgia's GIS, Hamas finance, DGSE operations
United States - CIA's spies experience housing crisis in LangleyThe CIA's human resources department and staff are concerned about the
EUROPE/GEORGIA : EU uses Ukraine-tested communicators to spread message in Georgia
The Georgian government has been very determined in its application to join the European Union over the past few weeks,
UAE/TURKEY : Edge Group central to Turkey-UAE cyber rapprochement
Edge Group executives mingled with Turkish officials when Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar visited Abu Dhabi on 31 May -
UNITED KINGDOM : MI6 strengthens legal team to weigh in on future changes in intelligence legislation
The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) is currently looking to recruit an 'operational' lawyer specialised in British civil and criminal law as part of its plan to prepare for several plann...
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED STATES : Nargiz Nasrullayeva, the Baku oil expert helping the West
The 27th Baku Energy Forum held from 2 to 4 June gave the queen of Caspian Sea contracts, Nargiz Nasrullayeva
CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : KPMG Russia boss expands Central Asian consulting business
Oleg Goshchansky, chairman and managing partner of KPMG's Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) practice, is gradually moving away
AUSTRALIA : Ripjar, the Australian Signals Directorate's new big data analytics provider
The Australian Signals Directorate, Canberra's answer to the NSA, has hired British big data analytics company Ripjar to provide various
BELGIUM/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : French candid... set to win NATO assembly presidency despite strong opposition
Later this year, a European will replace American Gerald Connolly as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA). He
AUSTRALIA/CHINA : Canberra seeks new security accommodation with China
While the Australian press continues to insist on the urgency of a drastic change in Australia's China policy, in reality,
UAE/YEMEN : Azal Mandi, an understated restaurant for Yemen's top brass in exile in Dubai
Unremarkable among the plethora of restaurants in Dubai, Azal Mandi has harnessed its anonymity to attract and retain a clientele
UNITED STATES : William Burns, the CIA's man for all seasons
Caught between two increasingly opposed camps in Washington, the duo of Ukraine-focused Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary
CHINA : Guangdong's oligarchs settle in Xinjiang
Last month, a business delegation from Guangdong was summoned to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, in a move that both
UNITED STATES/ITALY/RUSSIA : Divisions in Rome over Russia stance prompt US concerns
The conflict in Ukraine has put Italy in a tight spot. Prime minister Mario Draghi wants to remain faithful to
RUSSIA : Ex-FSO officers ready to pounce in post-war reshuffle
Alexander Kurenkov's appointment of as minister of emergency situations on 29 May, filling the shoes of the late Yevgeny Zinichev,
FRANCE/IRAQ/JORDAN : French Reaper drones deployed in Jordan, a regional showcase for French defence
Ahead of plans to reduce its operations in the Sahel, the French Armed Forces' 33rd Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Attack Wing,
UNITED STATES/IRAN : Seasoned lobbyist Ayal Frank signs up with Iranian Kurds
Since 25 May, the veteran promoter of Kurdish interests in Washington, the lobbyist Ayal Frank (IO, 27/05/21), has taken on
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Thales and PwC, FiveCast, Flashpoint, and US drones think-tank
Brussels - Thales and PwC, the European Commission's threat intelligence providers. Thales SIX GTS, the secure systems offshoot of French
UKRAINE : Kyiv seeks ground-based ISR sensors to match Russia's air supremacy
Intelligence Online understands that the Ukrainian ministry of defence has launched an appeal to manufacturers in search of ground-based intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) systems,...
ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Cyberintel experts Lavie and Zack extend their UK operations with Civilian Development Group
The London-based cybersecurity firm Orchestra, which was founded by Omri Lavie and Isaac Zack, is growing fast. In early June,
UAE/UNITED STATES : Washington focuses on Talal Al Kaissi in its new UAE cloud offensive
On 25 May, the US-UAE Business Council invited Talal Al Kaissi, the director of the cloud branch of the artificial
UZBEKISTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Alisher Usmanov's London adviser sets up his own consultancy business
British consultant Alexei Seleznev has just set up a new firm in London under the name Advisory and Business Consultancy
UKRAINE/BELARUS : Dissident militias involved in Ukraine conflict worry Minsk security chiefs
The Kalinovsky armed group announced last month on its Telegram channel Belwarriors that it was restructuring into a regiment made
GERMANY/DENMARK/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Bilal Sen, Audere, EuroSatory
Cologne: Turkish ex-cyber police official moves into German corporate intelligence Bilal Sen, a founder of the Turkish National Police (TNP) cybercrime
FRANCE : France's highest administrative jurisdiction will handle the case of disowned intelligence official
460893. That is the case number that all eyes in the French intelligence community have been watching come up on
ISRAEL/TURKEY : Tel Aviv's spymasters slow down reconciliation with Ankara
The Israeli government has put its air defence units on alert in fear of reprisals after Iran blamed Israel for
RUSSIA : Jet Infosystems, the Kremlin's all-terrain IT supplier
Jet Infosystems, a key player in the IT market, works closely with Moscow's armed forces and intelligence services, including by
UNITED STATES : Transfer season in full swing on Chicago's investigations market for BRG, Stout, Kroll and FTI
Chicago corporate intelligence veteran Michael Pace is preparing to leave Berkeley Research Group (BRG), according to our sources, after having been with the group since 2019. He is expected to j...
UNITED KINGDOM : UK Home Office reorganises intelligence to better monitor post-Brexit borders
The UK Home Office is in the process of merging the UK Border Force Intelligence Directorate and Immigration Intelligence into
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Erdogan utilising Turken Foundation to extend his influence in the US
By registering the Turkish Youth and Education Service Foundation (TURGEV) and Ensar Vakfi in the US Department of Justice (DoJ)
SYRIA : Magnate Amer Foz between rock and hard place in Brussels and Damascus
Like his brother Samer, Dubai-based Syrian magnate Amer Foz lost his legal challenge to European Union sanctions imposed against him
GERMANY : Bundestag becomes next focus for Europe's arms lobbyists
Berlin has not witnessed such a rush of arms lobbyists for decades: in an attempt to secure a share of
AZERBAIJAN/TURKEY : Ankara places its cyber pawns in Baku
Turkey is quietly pushing its cyber representatives in Baku. Alper Ozbilen, the chairman of the Turkish cyber and defence electronics
UNITED STATES/QATAR : Al Fardan clan central to Qatar World Cup anti-drone procurement
The NovoQuad ND-BD003 anti-drone gun was a big attraction at the MilipolQatar internal security trade fair in Doha on 24-26 May. The gun, which will be deployed at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, ...
ITALY/RUSSIA : Antonio Capuano, the Russian asset close to the Italian right
Mentioned in passing for several days by the Italian press in its revelations about Matteo Salvini's aborted trip to Moscow,
RUSSIA : Moscow steps up arms import-export controls
The Russian government is showing increasing vigilance regarding the military-industrial complex, in particular concerning any information likely to be leaked
RUSSIA : Before shakeups, Kremlin hawks engage in power game with siloviki
Usually focused on internal politics, some United Russia party veterans in the Moscow establishment have come to the fore in
UNITED KINGDOM : Future lead on counter-disinformation CDU bolsters technical capabilities
The UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is currently setting up a new Counter Disinformation Unit analysis unit
TURKEY : Armed security: Sadat's decline is benefiting Ekol Security
Thanks to the steady distancing of its founder, Adnan Tanriverdi, from the heart of decision-making in Ankara in recent weeks,
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/YEMEN : BND in Kyiv, Patrushev in Tatarstan, GUR, Yemen
Ukraine/Germany: Macron-Scholtz trip to Kyiv puts BND in a cold sweatGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron's planned
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Paris orders kamikaze drones from Washington
According to our sources, the DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement), France's military procurement agency, is finalising an order of 82
UAE : UAE cyber offensive champion CPX hit by intrusion as internal power battle rages around it
The defences of the UAE's new cyber offensive avatar CPX have already suffered an intrusion, according to our sources, even
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Divisions growing in Washington over its role in war in Ukraine
Not everyone in Washington is fully on board with the country's clear support for Ukraine. As this pro-Kyiv stance comes up against domestic politics, some US policymakers are beginning to voice ...
SYRIA : Iranian Pasdaran's Syria plans jeopardised by threat of Turkish intervention
At a time when Moscow was hoping it could quietly withdraw from Syria, the situation in the country is about
FRANCE : Le Point de Chute, military intelligence's happy hour hangout
Employees of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, in the Balard district in the south of Paris, are being left
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Gulf consulting, new Tory network
London - Gulf specialist Tobias Borck moves into consulting.Tobias Borck, a young German researcher at the Royal United Services Institute
ROMANIA : Foreign intelligence boss Gabriel Vlase draws on NATO background to face Russian threat
Moscow's war on Ukraine has confirmed the priorities set by former parliamentarian Gabriel Vlase for Romania's foreign intelligence service, the
UNITED KINGDOM : Home Office puts figure on unmasking a foreign spy
With Britain's National Security Bill (NSB) due to be debated by parliament on 6 June, following its introduction on 11
CHINA : Beijing uses Lotcamp to gain advantage in semiconductor war
Beijing appears to be directly behind the takeover last month of British semiconductor developer Arm's Chinese joint venture, Arm China,
RUSSIA : Russian investors await Western asset nationalisation wave
Business opportunities look set to be plentiful for Kremlin insiders when legislation comes into force authorising Russian entities to administer
UNITED STATES : Two Six Technologies poised to supply USCYBERCOM platform
The US cyberintelligence firm Two Six Technologies has entered exclusive talks with the US Army to supply US Cyber Command
DENMARK/UNITED KINGDOM : Danish coastal surveillance contract finally awarded
After six months of waiting, Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) finally received offers anwering its call for bids for coastal gap-filler radars, and named its winner.
FRANCE : ChapsVision brings on cyberintelligence veteran
French mass data analysis firm ChapsVision has brought in Marc Chenu-Tournier as technical director of its inteilligence branch Flandrin Technologies.
UNITED KINGDOM : Former Ambrey experts working in Ukraine
The opening of the new security outfit Sentinel Asset Protection (SAP) on 19 May sealed Jonathan Gahagan's departure as head
PAKISTAN : Afghan Taliban fail to broker a deal between their Pakistani branch and Islamabad
From 12 to 16 May, a hotel in Kabul served as the venue for heated negotiations between the Pakistani Taliban
RUSSIA : Russian soft power agency pulls out all the stops to spread the Kremlin line
Russian soft power agency Rossotrudnichestvo - which Intelligence Online has reported on regularly since Yevgeny Primakov Jr, grandson of the
EUROPE/FRANCE : TotalEnergies and Paris push to take the lead in the European race for non-Russian gas
In the first half of 2023, the Inter-ministerial Crisis Unit (CIC) of the French General Secretariat for Defence and National
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : US electronic warfare specialists test the waters of post-Covid European market
US manufacturers of electronic warfare subsystems have been swamping European trade fairs, starting with AOC Europe in Montpellier, France, in
ISRAEL : Former diplomat Ella Tkach-Dreazen delves into anti-fraud tech with Eli Ben Meir
As the United Nations is working to strengthen the cyber capabilities of countries lacking the resources to do so (IO,
France : Paris cyber investment sector goes into expansion mode
Plans to set up a number of specialist cyber investment companies are taking shape in Paris, according to our sources. Franco-Italian financier Stéphane Klécha, who heads Klecha & Co, a merchan...
FRANCE : Anti-drone tech developer Cerbair closes ranks
The French anti-drone specialist Cerbair is now solely in the hands of CEO Lucas Le Bell following the resignation of chairman Olivier Le Blainvaux, with whom he co-founded the company.
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Greenberg Traurig spearheads Kazakhstan's US rapprochement efforts
For Kazakh foreign minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi's recent visit to Washington, which included a meeting with US secretary of state Antony
UKRAINE : UN quietly supports State Bureau of Investigations
With accusations of war crimes mounting against both sides amid Russia's offensive, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is using
FRANCE/TURKEY : Erdogan's AKP uses Cojep to lobby its interests in French legislative elections
Running as independent candidates in the French legislative elections, the French-Turkish dual citizens Celil Yilmaz (for 5th constituency of the
FRANCE : Affinis aims to grow defence business using Proxxi database
Corporate intelligence outfit Affinis' defence team plans to present the new features of its defence database Proxxi at the Eurosatory
BELARUS : Versatility-driven Minsk focuses on made-in-Belarus arms
Though his profuse words of praise for the Russian military campaign failed to fully convince his audience of Collective Security
UNITED STATES/SYRIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Oil firm Gulfsands sees new opportunities in updated US sanctions list
On 26 May, the British company Gulfsands Petroleum settled its disputes in Colombia, with, in mind, its long-awaited return to
FRANCE : French Treasury seeks new compliance investigators for Airbus
France's Treasury department, the DGT (Direction Générale du Trésor), is seeking an anti-corruption auditor for Airbus Group's internal compliance investigations, in connection with loans and ...
CHINA : Wang Yang, the official steering UN rights chief's decisive visit to Xinjiang
The trip to Xinjiang of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, which began on 23 May,
KAZAKHSTAN : Tokayev adds final touches to domestic intelligence overhaul after spymaster ouster
A few months after the unrest that swept across Kazakhstan prompted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to take action to reduce the
CHINA : Beijing ramps up military and security-driven plans in the Pacific
According to our sources, the bulk of the 20-strong delegation accompanying Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on his tour of
FRANCE/QATAR : French defence companies launch charm offensive at Milipol Qatar
Milipol Qatar, the Middle Eastern edition of the internal security and civil defence trade fair, on 24-26 May, drew a
FRANCE : Military procurement agency's cyber branch strides into French anti-disinformation apparatus
The French military procurement agency DGA's cyber and signals intelligence (SIGINT) innovation branch, the DGA Maîtrise de l'information (DGA-MI), plans
UKRAINE : Allied tensions mount over supply of weapons to Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron's next visit to Kyiv, which will follow French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna's trip to the Ukrainian capital yesterday, is not expected to be a smooth ride. The visit...
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Moldova's Statis change lawyers in case against Kazakh government
Moldovan father-and-son businessmen Anatol Stati and Gabriel Stati have recently appointed British lawyer James Ramsden to handle their legal case
Europe : Airbus and Thales rally networks of influence to reap benefits of European rearmament
A €35m framework deal for a secure communications system from Airbus Group and Thales, announced on 13 May, is one
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA/YEMEN : Truce in Yemen, Russian executives, Transnistria, Rosfinmonitoring
Yemen - Ansarullah still vindictive despite truce According to our information, the Yemeni loyalist intelligence services believe that the interests
FRANCE : French Army commandos await new chief
Eric Vidaud's sudden departure as head of the French military intelligence service (DRM) in March (IO, 04/04/22), is having an
CHINA/UKRAINE : China and Ukraine's rapprochement hits road bump
According to our sources, China recently cancelled a painstakingly negotiated telephone call between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Ukraine's President
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Neom's CEO expected in Paris to woo French investors
The head of the $500bn new city of Neom mega-project, Nadhmi al-Nasr, is expected to be the headliner at a
ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : NSO keeps a foot in Singapore thanks to TRD
Present at the Asia-Pacific edition of the Milipol security trade show, held from 18 to 20 May, Singaporean anti-drone firm
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kherson to serve as Moscow's laboratory for integration of occupied territories
The new date for the referendum regarding absorption of the Kherson oblast by the Russian Federation (IO, 20/05/22) is close to being settled. According to our information, the internal intellige...
FRANCE/IRAQ : Paris rallies to save Iraqi contracts
In an effort led with great determination by the French embassy in Baghdad, France is going all out to keep
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/SINGAPORE/UNITED KINGDOM : Hakluyt, ADIT/ECCO, FTI Consulting
New York - Hakluyt brings in hedge fund veteran. A few days after re-electing Varun Chandra as its managing partner,
UNITED STATES : Will the Off the Record speakeasy survive Washington's bunkering?
One of Washington's favourite meeting spots, where private investigators, lobbyists for foreign states, PRs, journalists, congressmen and government officials mix
CHINA : Xi Jinping brings Beijing's second-most influential body to heel before CCP Congress
It was without much festive spirit that the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) marked its 100th anniversary on 5
IRAN : Pasdaran play kingmakers in Ali Khamenei's succession
At the centre of the Iranian state apparatus, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Pasdaran (IO, 01/04/22) - intends to
RUSSIA : Russian intelligence official Ivan Tkachev does Sechin's financial counterintelligence bidding
Western sanctions and their consequences on Russian business leaders and oligarchs have formed most of the work supply at the "K"
UNITED KINGDOM : Airbus, Leonardo and Sikorski choppers race to win over SAS
The UK's Special Air Service (SAS) will be able to draw on the £900m (€1bn) deal the MoD is due to
UAE : After Flashpoint, Laith Alkouri launches cyberintelligence solutions distributor
Laith Alkouri, co-founder of the New York based cyber threat intelligence (CTI) firm Flashpoint, has gone into cyber-intelligence solutions distribution
ITALY : Rome turns to academia for new economic intelligence division to face China's rise
Prime Minister Mario Draghi finally reached an agreement to strengthen the use of 'Golden Power' by creating a dedicated division,
UKRAINE : Kyiv engaged in intelligence legislation frenzy
A bill, which has been under consideration in the Ukrainian National Assembly, the Verkhovna Rada, over the past week, outlines
CANADA/RUSSIA/BELARUS : Sanctioned oligarch Dmitry Mazepin's potash interests threatened by his former North American allies
The current worldwide shortage of potash has boosted the activities of Canadian fertiliser producer Nutrien. It is benefiting from the
FRANCE/SINGAPORE : Paris wants to reboot its partnership with Singaporean agency HTX
According to our sources, Paris is trying to renew its ties with the young Singaporean security and intelligence technology development
SINGAPORE : Xrator hoping for business with Singapore's NCS group
Franco-Singaporean cybersecurity company Xrator (IO, 27/09/21) is negotiating a systems supply contract with IT company NCS, a subsidiary of Singaporean
KUWAIT : US court ruling marks final chapter of Alghanim quarrel
In her decision of 5 May to reject the discovery procedure launched by Omar Alghanim against his father Kutayba Alghanim,
GERMANY/BELGIUM/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Major standoff afoot within NATO over hack back views
The disagreements between NATO members of the drafting of the organisation's new Defensive Cyberspace Operation policy are beginning to turn sour. According to our information, its mainland Europ...
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Erdogan's AKP campaigns to win over Turkish diaspora in US
The US office of Turkey's AKP, or Justice and Development Party, was added to the US Department of Justice's register
FRANCE : Cyber Impact Fund poaches national cybersecurity policy officer William Lecat
The national coordinator of cybersecurity strategy for the French prime minister's investment branch, William Lecat, will, according to our sources,
FRANCE : Scorechain investigates cryptoassets seized by France
Scorechain's cryptocurrency investigations and analytics software will equip, at least until September 2022, the investment arm of the French state,
ISRAEL/SUDAN : Mossad ordered to help build bridges with Khartoum
Intelligence Online understands that a high-level Sudanese delegation is on a trip to Israel this week to discuss plans for
RUSSIA : Russia's spatial imagery suppliers keep low profile in war on Ukraine
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put the spotlight on state intelligence agencies as much as on private suppliers of geospatial intelligence
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : French groups dream of MbS' big entertainment projects
Once dominated by France's defence and infrastructure industries, MEDEF International is sending a delegation to Riyadh on 29 May focused
UNITED STATES : UN agencies beef up due diligence
Busy attending to Ukraine and Iran, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is increasingly reliant on the work of its vetting agency to conduct background checks and due dilig...
DENMARK/FRANCE : Expanding northern European lobbying group Rud Pedersen tries its hand in the French market
After completing his partial takeover of Paris consulting firm CNTVRS (Controverse), headed by communications specialist Caroline Marchetti, Danish lobbyist Morten
CHINA/VATICAN : Vatican's secret diplomacy clashes with internal tensions in Beijing
Beijing believes Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun's arrest by the Hong Kong authorities for "colluding with foreign forces" on 11 May
GERMANY/UAE/UNITED KINGDOM : Flurry of lawsuits hit German defence industry's former Arab world agent El Husseini
Invest Bank, owned by the government of the emirate of Sharjah, is still pursuing legal action against Ahmad El Husseini;
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Nihon Cyber Defence grows into Japan-based relay of Five Eyes cyber model
The Japan-based British cybersecurity consulting firm Nihon Cyber Defence (NCD) recently took on John Powers, the former head of intelligence
UKRAINE : Kyiv prepares its shopping list for Washington
According to our sources, the first armed Reaper drones sold by the United States have arrived on Ukrainian soil, marking, in the wake of artillery battles, the start of a much more offensive pha...
CHINA/PERU : Cosco secures strong support in Lima for new South American milestone
The Terminales Portuarios Chancay (TPCH), located in Peru, is to become China's first logistics hub in Latin America's Pacific region.
UAE : With MbZ now president, the bitter race for his succession has begun
The death of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aged 73, on 13 May, and the election as president of his
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : FSB still at forefront of intelligence gathering in Ukraine
According to our sources, the recent upsets that have shaken the FSB since the start of the war in Ukraine
JORDAN : GID gets battle ready to tackle drug trafficking
According to our sources, Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate (GID), has hiked the fight against drug trafficking to the top of
AZERBAIJAN/EGYPT/FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : Criticism in the Sinai, drones in French skies, Astana nears Baku
France - Commando unit drones in French skies. A regulatory change will, according to our sources, soon allow armed forces
GERMANY/KAZAKHSTAN : The helmsmen of Germany's energy pivot to Central Asia
As war rages on in Ukraine, associations of German lobbyists who have worked for Russian-registered companies in the past are
ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : Singapore's Temasek shakes up management at Sygnia
Following a shake-up earlier this month, the Israeli cyber incident response and forensics firm Sygnia is to be governed by
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : China hones its air combat skills with help from renegade Western pilots
A video which featured on Twitter's Chinese-speaking service on 23 April shows a foreigner in uniform, speaking English with a slight French accent, stretched out on the grass alongside a pilot w...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Kroll's Paris office celebrates 25 years amid whirlwind restructure
As it prepares to celebrate its 25th year in France, Kroll's Parisian office finds itself handling the succession of Bechir
TURKEY : Hakan Fidan, the unstoppable reformer of Turkish intelligence
Head to Riyadh with President Receip Tayyip Erdogan on 29 April to seal Turkey's grand reconciliation with Saudi crown prince
KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : Turkey construction magnates sponsor Kazakh-Turkish defence relationship
Despite keeping some distance from politics after insurrections in January (IO, 24/01/22) and the government's bid to lessen its influence,
UNITED KINGDOM : Idesus, Fitzroy Tavern, BGR and Governances
London - Networking session for London's corporate intelligence elite. There was a good deal of business card-swapping at the relaxed
ITALY : Casa Coppelle, Rome's intimate retreat catering to intelligence diplomats
In this peaceful haven tucked away among the busy small streets overflowing with tourists around the Roman Pantheon, there are
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Moscow's shifting security and political strategies in the Donbass
Having planned "self-determination" referendums in mid-May - supervised by Andrei Yarin, head of the Kremlin's internal policy department (IO, 09/05/22)
FRANCE : French parliamentary elections set to shake up intelligence oversight
Oversight of the intelligence and defence landscape in France is poised for major change if French voters follow patterns in
UNITED KINGDOM : Thales Alenia Space and In-Space become la...ntendors for UK defence's spy satellites constellation project
According to our sources, French space company Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the British In-Space, which was acquired in 2021
AZERBAIJAN/ISRAEL/TURKEY : Baku makes drones central to its regional cooperation ambitions
Surrounded by his spymasters - state security service chief Ali Naghiyev and foreign intelligence boss Orkhan Sultanov - Azerbaijani president
CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA : Russia's soft power institutions tread carefully in Central Asia
After having been called off for the last two years because of Covid-19 restrictions, the 9 May Victory Day celebrations
VIETNAM : Despite corruption probes, Vietnam still holds appeal for cyber companies
Israeli cyber companies that do business in Vietnam have been shaken up by the arrest last month of businesswoman Nguyen
UNITED STATES : NATO moves ahead with intelligence fusion platform
Despite the war in Ukraine which has been its major preoccupation of late, NATO is pursing the development of its
SAUDI ARABIA/EUROPE : Ex-military intelligence chief Sten Reimann helps export Estonian technology
Estonia, closely involved in helping Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, was already exporting its technical intelligence know-how to Kyiv before the hostilities began. Sten Reimann,...
UNITED KINGDOM : China-focused Lib Dem stalwart Clement-Jones joins corporate intelligence advisory
Intelligence Online understands that Liberal Democrats peer Timothy Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones, has joined the advisory board of KCS Group, a
DENMARK : Hunt for "leaks" continues as Danish spy chief stays under house arrest
An ad hoc select task force from the PET, the Danish national intelligence and counterintelligence law enforcement agency, is working
CHINA/INDIA : Beijing nudges forward with encroachment on Indian Himalayas
The Western Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) wants to increase its Hindi-speaking recruits by at least 3,000 by
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Russian Alfa Group's investment arm A1 still going strong as litigation funder in London
The investment branch of Alfa Group, A1, wants the Russian state corporation Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA, IO, 29/06/16) to continue
OMAN : Omani Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham takes charge of the sultanate's economic destiny
Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham, the sultan's son, took charge of the inaugural meeting of the organising committee for the
BELGIUM/UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/EUROPEAN UNION : Belgian army benchmarks anti-drone systems before launching procurement
The Belgian army is currently preparing to issue a tender call for anti-drone systems, according to our sources. A request
JORDAN : Talal Abu-Ghazaleh takes over cyber training in Jordan
The founder of the group TAG Global, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, has been able to become an integral part of Jordan's partnership
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Crackdown on golden visa schemes takes toll on sector intelligence providers
With his position as head of the Montenegrin Investment Agency (MIA) confirmed on 10 May, Mladen Grgic will be able to continue to draw on help from corporate intelligence companies. When assessi...
CHINA/UNITED STATES/EAST EUROPE/RUSSIA : Washington seeks t...nt Russian power grab at International Telecommunication Union
Passed by the House of Representatives on 27 April, the Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act drafted by Republican Senator Rob Portman
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Beijing plots next move in Chinese groups' US audits
A delegation from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) - the US body that oversees audits of listed companies
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Sweden rushes to develop electronic warfare systems in the Baltic Sea
Concerned about Russia's reaction to Stockholm's application to join NATO, the Swedish arms procurement agency Forsvarets Materielverk (FMV) put out
QATAR : Doha Bank fails to extricate itself from case of alleged Qatari funding of al-Nusra
The Queens Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales made a new decision in April in the
AZERBAIJAN/GEORGIA/RUSSIA : FSB keeps close watch on Caucasian borders
The FSB, in charge of intelligence for Russia and former Soviet countries, is keeping a particularly careful eye on Russian
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : French consultants devising new avenue for business diplomacy with Riyadh
Several weeks ago, a team of businessmen who work in Saudi Arabia began to tour companies interested in the country's
DENMARK/UNITED STATES : Radars in Greenland: US pressures Denmark to monitor the Arctic
Danish observers and consultants have been busy ever since the Pentagon strategically briefed a small number of Scandinavian journalists in
UKRAINE : Kyiv rushes to scoop up used Russian jets
Malaysia is currently in discussions with brokers operating on behalf of Ukraine to sell its fleet of Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, or at least the aircraft's spare parts. The Malaysian Gove...
FRANCE : The sensitive question of intelligence gathering by French defence attachés
Revealed by Intelligence Online (IO, 11/05/22), the appointment of French defence attaché in Washington Cyril Carcy as deputy director of the military intelligence service, the Direction
CHINA/LITHUANIA/RUSSIA : Under pressure from Moscow and Bei... intelligence service attempts to move past internal conflicts
The annual report from Lithuania's civil intelligence service, published on 29 April, talks up the success of a reform last
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/JORDAN/UZBEKISTAN/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGD...HQ, US shipments to Kyiv, Uzbek border guards, Poupard and DGA
Jordan/United States: Abdullah II puts intelligence at centre of US visit agendaJordan's King Abdullah II, the first Arab leader to
CHINA/GREECE : Despite US pressure, China maintains its grasp on Piraeus port
Intelligence Online understands that negotiations are underway between officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and New Democracy, the conservative
UNITED STATES : HawkEye lobbies to unblock export of raw data
HawkEye 360, which specialises in radio frequency (RF) signal interception (SIGINT), is stepping up its lobbying to facilitate the export
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Washington takes stock of Baghdad's intelligence gaps
The international military intervention Operation Inherent Resolve officially ended its combat missions in Iraq in December at the same time as a larger withdrawal of troops engaged in the countr...
UNITED STATES : Former FBI agent turned private investigator Mark Rossini's Swiss activities in spotlight
An ex-FBI representative in Alec Station, the CIA unit that hunted Al Qaeda, Mark Rossini is one of the former
RUSSIA : Operation new recruits: Russian intelligence targets conscripts and students
Rumours are continuing to circulate about purges within the Russian security services - which have notably targeted the head of
CENTRAL ASIA/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Russian banks negotiate with US treasury's OFAC to secure presence in Central Asia
The sanctions piling up against Russian banks is causing deep concern in Central Asia, where their partners are also being
SWITZERLAND : The Moosegg Hotel, the Alpine retreat where private investigators meet up with their Gulf paymasters
It is like something out of a James Bond film. The Moosegg Hotel, a boutique hotel 1,000 metres up in
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL : Independent investigations war lurks behind BRG v NSO battle
Berkeley Research Group (BRG), the American consulting firm that manages the Novalpina Capital fund, which owns 70% of NSO Group,
ARMENIA/RUSSIA : Russia's FSB tightens its grip in Armenia
Tightening the screws even further on the circulation of information in Russia (IO, 12/07/21), Moscow recently gave the FSB, the
FINLAND : Rear Admiral Juha Vauhkonen leads Finland's exit from military neutrality
The recent joint statement by Finnish president and prime minister Sanna Marin and Sauli Niinisto stating that Finland will apply
UAE/TURKEY : Aselsan, Baykar, TOGG: Abu Dhabi eyes acquisition of Turkey's military industry
While Turkey gets into reconciliation mode with Saudi Arabia - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the country on 28 April,
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Raedas, Veracity
London: Raedas arrives in Washington.Two months in the making, the arrival in the United States of Raedas Consulting, a corporate
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/corporate-intelligence/2022/05/13/raedas-veracity,109784458-art
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/MOLDOVA : West increases aid to boost Chisinau's cyber defence capacities
On top of the heightened tensions between Moldova and Transnistria, a pro-Russian strip of land squeezed between the Dniester River
UAE : Sofia Lasky, Tahnoon bin Zayed's trusted financial adviser
It came as no surprise that the Abu Dhabi-based real estate company Aldar Properties' shareholders approved Sofia Lasky's appointment to
EGYPT/TURKEY : Turkish and Egyptian spymasters eye deal on Muslim Brotherhood extradition
The matter of Muslim Brotherhood members exiled in Turkey is a stumbling block in the secret negotiations between Turkey's MIT
RUSSIA/TURKMENISTAN : Tatar president opens southern door to Russian oil and gas
With Europe threatening to ban all Russian oil, a decision already taken by the US in early March, Moscow is
UAE/IRAN : Tanker that resurfaced as Iranian warship linked to Emirati royals
Abu Dhabi-based Horizon Energy, the oil services firm owned by Rashed Al Suwaidi - an associate of Emirati vice prime
UNITED KINGDOM : Interrupt Labs takes ex-NCA chief Keith Bristow on vulnerabilities hunt
Although the corporate intelligence company Arcanum Global Intelligence, of which he is vice chair, is increasingly troubled by the Wirecard
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Private spies search for NSO's true clients
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, US firm Berkeley Research Group (BRG), which has been operating since 2021 Swiss fund Novalpina Capital, one of the investors of NSO Grou...
FRANCE/JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Audere ups its game with new Asia-focused consultants
Audere International, a fast-growing firm founded by Charles Blackmore, the former CEO of the Page Group security firm, is stepping
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Abbas Ibrahim still in hot water in US despite pulling off prisoner release
The Lebanese doctor Richard Kharrat, who was released after more than a month of detention in Abu Dhabi for publishing
FRANCE : French military intelligence shouldered by US intelligence community expert
According to our sources, General Cyril Carcy will shortly be joining France's military intelligence agency, the DRM. This former Mirage-class
FRANCE : French company EPEE considers handing over to ADIT
According to our sources, Jacques Hogard is in talks with corporate intelligence group ADIT over the sale of a majority
CHINA/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Washington eyes European nuclear power
With demand for American gas soaring in Europe, Washington could also capitalise on the renewed interest in nuclear power in
SWEDEN/UNITED KINGDOM : Online investigator Silobreaker to work for the young Swedish anti-fake news agency
Swedish-British data analysis company Silobreaker has won the contract, announced on 6 May, to supply open source intelligence technology (OSINT)
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Corporate intelligence firms face succession choices
Barely have corporate intelligence firms got over the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic than they have been shaken up now by another unwelcome development: the drying up of Russian contracts, a mai...
ARGENTINA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Washington launches political and security counter-offensive against Beijing in Argentina
Intelligence Online understands that US President Joe Biden sent Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Council's (NSC) director for the American
FRANCE/ISRAEL : French businessman Hervé Vinciguerra makes further investment in NSO founder's cyber empire
French businessman Hervé Vinciguerra has recently acquired a stake in the London-based subsidiary of Orchestra, the cybersecurity company founded by
IRAQ : Iraq Telecom takes on the Barzanis' phone operator in New York
The telephone operator Iraq Telecom went to the court of the Southern District of New York to get the confirmation
ITALY : Italian intelligence services woo academia
The publication in Italy of a new book on geopolitics, "Geopolitica dal pensiero all'azione. Spazio e politica in età contemporanea"
IRAQ : Security tensions high in Iraq's overcrowded Sinjar Mountain region
In northern Iraq, where the Sinjar Mountain region, home to displaced ethnic Yazidi, is currently the scene of clashes between
CHINA/NORTH KOREA : Beijing tries to win Pyongyang's trust by helping rebuild Punggye-ri nuclear test site
The 14th ballistic missile test by Pyongyang this year, carried out on 4 May, is not likely to alter the
Russia : Igor Sechin's sanction-free protégé Roman Trotsenko digs Arctic corridor
Though caught up with the war in Ukraine, Moscow has not forgotten its major investment projects in its Far Eastern
FRANCE/NETHERLANDS/ROMANIA/UKRAINE : With Damen in ambush, Naval Group could lose Romanian corvette deal
Still waiting for four corvettes it ordered in 2019, Romania's defence ministry last week gave Naval Group and its local
UNITED STATES/TURKEY/UKRAINE : Competition brews between Turkish and US drones in Ukraine
At the end of April, the United States promised to deliver 121 US-built Phoenix Ghost drones to Ukraine, causing a media outpour, which was as much due to the mystery surrounding the drones thems...
CHINA/UKRAINE : War in Ukraine: China concentrates its diplomatic attention on Europe
Away from the TV cameras, Chinese diplomats in Europe are busy trying to promote their country's solution for settling the
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UZBEKISTAN/RUSSIA/EUROPEAN... planes in Tashkent, Russian military engineers decorated, DNI
Uzbekistan/Afghanistan - Tashkent refuses to return Afghan planes to Kabul. Ismatullah Irgashev, Tashkent's special representative in Afghanistan and close adviser
RUSSIA : Kiriyenko dynasty flouts sanctions and gains influence at heart of Kremlin
The effects of the conflict in Ukraine are rippling through Russia's critical industries and changing seats at the Kremlin. As
UAE/INDIA/TURKEY : India's fallen signal intelligence king hawks Turkish drones to Dubai
After a major marketing facelift, the low-key, Dubai-based intelligence equipment retailer Stratign has added drones to its online catalogue. For
FRANCE/ISRAEL/VIETNAM : Anti-corruption investigation: Char...swoman threaten to impact Israeli and French defence companies
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, a Hanoi-based defence sales agent for an array of Western companies, was charged with corruption by
RUSSIA/BELARUS : How Russia is working to absorb Belarusian news networks into sovereign internet
In the past few week, the information space in Minsk has taken a new turn. It is now headed towards a shared concept on information security drafted on 14 April by the Russian security council de...
AUSTRALIA/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : John Coates affair...nvestigations at heart of International Olympic Committee rift
John Coates' resignation on 29 April as president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) came amid a poisonous climate within
TURKEY : Cyberinvestigation firm DIFOSE supplies foreign technology to Turkish law enforcement agencies
NATO's annual Locked Shields cyberdefence exercise, which ended on 22 April, allowed the cyberinvestigation firm DIFOSE, or Digital Forensics Services,
ISRAEL : King David hotel, a spies' den central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The distinguished King David Hotel sits at a vantage point overlooking the ramparts of the walled city of Jerusalem. Since
UKRAINE : How Zelensky's inner circle has evolved since the Russian offensive began
After the beginning of the Russian attacks in Ukraine on 24 February, a tightknit circle of lieutenants, each with a
UNITED STATES : Cyber Battle Lab experiments bogged down by provider war
The Cyber Battle Lab (CBL), which is responsible for developing concepts and experimental materials in the fields of cyber and
IRAN : Tehran's security envoy Ali Shamkhani works the international scene
Dispatched to Baghdad on 21 April for the fifth round of negotiations between Tehran and Riyadh under the leadership of
AFGHANISTAN : Taliban out of favour with Islamabad over worsening security situation
An attack on a Hazara Shi-ite boys' school in Western Kabul on 19 April, an area regularly targeted by Islamic
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Moscow woos French nuclear physicist
A French name has crept into the short list of new Russian nationals signed by Vladimir Putin on 21 April:
CHINA/VENEZUELA : Felix Plasencia, the diplomat helping Maduro firm up Beijing ties
Venezuela's new foreign minister, Felix Plasencia, is increasingly establishing himself as the key interlocutor between the country's authorities and is
FRANCE : Maritime surveillance firm Unseenlabs spreads its wings in Indo-Pacific
Unseenlabs, a satellite constellation operator specialising in radio frequency (RF) signal interception (SIGINT), is gaining momentum in the Indo-Pacific region.
UNITED STATES : Exodus Intelligence finds new growth in N-day vulnerabilities
The management of cyber security flaws, considered a major national security issue, is of growing interest to zero-day specialists. Exodus Intelligence, headed by Logan Brown, is seeking to take ...
CHINA/SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN : Tokyo and Seoul enlist Taiwan's Jason Ho in microchip wars against China
Taiwanese-born lobbyist Jason Ho settled in San Jose, California on 14 April, as a local representative of Revatron Co., a
ISRAEL/RUSSIA/SYRIA : Russia threatens to end cooperation in Syria with Israel
According to our sources, during his meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Moscow Alexander Ben Zvi on 18 April, the
FRANCE/IRAQ : CAE Aviation deploys new spy plane in Erbil
The Luxembourg-based CAE Aviation, headed by David Attali (IO, 06/12/21), began deploying an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) plane in
UAE/ISRAEL : Despite turbulence, Tahnoon bin Zayed keeps close eye on economic relations with Tel Aviv
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have continued to build on their economic partnership since the conclusion of the Abraham
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv and Washington coordinate future sanctions against Moscow
The White House threatened further sanctions against Russian individuals and entities last week while behind the scenes, an ad hoc working group has been drafting a list of potential targets. Led...
RUSSIA : Dmitri Medvedev appointed guardian of Russian technological sovereignty
A few months after his return to the political centre stage, Dmitry Medvedev, ex-president and President Vladimir Putin's former prime
CHINA/KAZAKHSTAN : How the Chinese industry establishes a foothold in Kazakh security apparatus
In a move to broaden its defence partnerships, the Kazakh government announced new deals with Turkey and the United Arab
FRANCE : The presidential election over, France's cyber sector goes into battle mode
Less than two weeks after the French presidential elections, the country's cyber-specialists are hoping that a certain number of major
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : With European priorities on its mind EDF lets slide Saudi nuclear power projects
Saudi Arabia is, according to our sources, beginning to lose faith in EDF, of which the French state owns 83.88%, as its developer for the construction of two reactors for what will be Riyadh's f...
UNITED STATES/UZBEKISTAN : Arnold & Porter help Uzbekistan get closer to Washington
Uzbekistan's government, which has remained resolutely neutral on the war in Ukraine, continues to pursue internal reforms in the hope
SYRIA/TURKEY : Turkish and Syrian spymasters making furtive moves to prepare for future normalisation
Intelligence Online has discovered that delegations from the Turkish intelligence service, the MIT, and the Syrian National Security Bureau (NSB)
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Minsk opposition keeps up connections with Moscow
With his Belarus Democratic Forces Forum coming up in Warsaw on 16-17 May, Belarusian opposition leader Valery Tsepkalo, who lives
CHINA/SERBIA : China gains ground in Serbia with new civil-military partnership model
With President Aleksandar Vucic's help, China is gradually bringing Serbia into an unprecedented civil-military partnership model under the Belt and
FRANCE : Temno, French ally of Italian cyber-intelligence expert Cy4gate, starts hunt for clients
Temno, which was set up last July, has begun prospecting for clients among the French police and gendarmerie, according to
CHINA/UKRAINE : Xi Jinping delays call to Volodymyr Zelensky
Chinese and Ukrainian diplomatic corps have been talking for over a month about arranging a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky (IO, 28/03/22). The ho...
SAUDI ARABIA : Leonardo connects with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan's Shamal Group
The recently launched new website of Saudi Arabian foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud's Shamal Group, formerly Shamal Investment,
UNITED KINGDOM : The Burlington Arms, the old private investigators' pub struggling to hold on to its customers
There may be a private investigators' party in London's Fitzroy Tavern in mid-May, but The Burlington Arms is still the
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Washington moulds new multilateral strategy in 'China Initiative' follow-up
At the beginning of April, the Department of Justice made several convictions for economic espionage committed for China's benefit, which
BELGIUM/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Years after Paris attacks, Jaak Raes still rules over Belgium's domestic intelligence
The 2015 Paris terrorist attacks trial that opened in Belgium on 19 April has plunged Jaak Raes, the head of
UKRAINE : YouControl and the SBU's TyHto puts counterintelligence within reach of every Ukrainian
The launch of the identity verification app for the general public TyHto on 11 April by its Ukrainian developer YouControl in partnership with the SBU, Kyiv's domestic intelligence service, allow...
RUSSIA : Minchenko engineers election campaigns for Kremlin in regions and neighbouring countries
A frequent commentator in the Russian or foreign media since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Evgeny Minchenko
GERMANY : Reforming German intelligence services grapple with Russian threat
According to remarks made by its director Bruno Kahl (IO, 11/03/22) in a German administration publication on 5 April, the
ROMANIA : Dutch shipbuilder Damen mobilises ex intelligence generals to compete with Naval Group in Romania
According to our sources the consulting firm Strategic SYS SRL is working with Damen Shipyards on a fresh offensive to
ISRAEL : Newbie Majestic Technologies makes bold first move with ISS sponsorship
The September edition of ISS World Asia in Singapore has enlisted Majestic Technologies as one of its main sponsors. Little
TURKEY/BALKANS : Drone exports: Havelsan and STM zoom in on Bosnia to compete with rival Baykar
On 20 April, a delegation that included representatives of Turkish drone manufacturers Havelsan and Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik (STM) visited Bosnia-Herzegovina's
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : After Chelsea FC, Nick Candy covets Saudi Arabia's Neom megacity project
Nicholas Anthony Christopher Candy, generally known simply as Nick Candy, is still officially in the race to buy London's Chelsea
RUSSIA : Russia's tax havens cash in on West's hunt for oligarchs
By repatriating his investment company Beluna Investments from Cyprus to Oktyabrsky, in the Kaliningrad region, on 6 April, the oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, head of the Renova conglomerate, added ...
FRANCE/IRAQ : French security firms struggle to get foot back in Iraq
On the trail of French investments in Iraq, Intelligence Online understands that French security expert GEOS chaired by Didier Bolelli,
CHINA : Xi Jinping buoys security with new right-hand man Wang Xiaohong
Numerous Chinese bureaucrats are awaiting the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 20th Congress to learn what part they will play in
UNITED STATES/INDIA/ISRAEL : Wirecard: Aviram Azari's guilty plea sets alarm bells ringing at Arcanum
Pleading guilty on 20 April in a New York court to participating in the email sting operation on journalists and
UNITED KINGDOM : Taro Nordheider displays penchant for luxury and corporate intelligence
Between Swarovski and Porsche, young consultant Taro Nordheider has the knack of landing roles in the luxury goods sector. Nordheider
ARGENTINA/BOLIVIA/CHILE/CHINA : Beijing's envoy, Qingjun "Victor", Wu hunts down South American lithium
In early April, when Chile's new president Gabriel Boric confirmed his wish to nationalise the country's lithium deposits, it was
AZERBAIJAN/UNITED STATES/TURKMENISTAN : The US lobbyist who wants to connect Caspian gas reserves
Taking advantage of energy events around the Caspian Sea - the OGT 2022 forum, organised at the end of March,
FRANCE/INDONESIA : French defence companies pick their way through obstacle course in Jakarta
A steady stream of French delegations have visited Indonesia recently. Alice Guitton, the head of the defence ministry's international relations and strategy department, the DGRIS, was in the cou...
UNITED STATES/FINLAND/NORWAY/RUSSIA/SWEDEN : Facing Putin, Nordic intelligence takes aim at the Arctic
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) forum on "Changes and Challenges in the Nordic Security Climate", co-organised by the
SAUDI ARABIA/CENTRAL ASIA/UAE : MbZ preps to battle Riyadh in renewables with reformed Masdar
With Abu Dhabi scheduled to host the COP28 climate conference in November 2023, it is a busy time for the
EUROPE/ISRAEL : Thanks to Sopra Steria, Rayzone lands role in Belgian security big data
According to our sources, Sopra Seria, the French defence consulting firm, is integrating the cyber-intelligence firm TA9's platform into its cyber
FRANCE : DGSE juggles between its Paris headquarters
Finalised on April 15, the defence ministry's review of the military appropriations law has been submitted to parliament. The document, which Intelligence Online has consulted, reveals that a lar...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/ROMANIA : Paris seeks to restore influence in Bucarest, where US has become closer ally
Christian Cambon, the chairman of the French senate foreign affairs committee, visited Bucarest on 5 April, the same week that
SAUDI ARABIA/YEMEN : Together with Abu Dhabi, Riyadh sets up a new Yemeni Presidential Council
With a fragile truce in place in Yemen since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan (IO, 07/04/22), a
GERMANY : Bems'l, every training NATO officer's favourite Bavarian bar
On the River Ammer in the village of Oberammergau, a few kilometres from the Austrian border, Bems'l Music Bar &
EUROPE/TAJIKISTAN : Airbus makes inroads into president's favourite airline, sidelining Boeing
Tajikistan's private airline Somon Air, favoured by Tajik president Emomali Rahmon for his travels abroad, is gradually opening up to
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Equilibrium, 5 Stones, Concentric, Othrys
London - Retired Lord Richards leaves Equilibrium without a captain. Intelligence Online understands that Sir David Richards, Baron Richards of
UNITED KINGDOM : Sir Jeremy Fleming stress tests GCHQ's return to strategic threat intelligence
Like the rest of the British intelligence community since 24 February, Sir Jeremy Fleming, the man appointed director of the
AUSTRALIA : Paraflare, Australia's other cyber asset
Australia continues to invest heavily in cyber and a local ecosystem is beginning to take shape. Announced at the end
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Washington finally ready to launch its anti-drug strategy against Hezbollah
Adopted by the US House of Representatives on 5 April and now being debated in the Senate, the US Department
CHINA : How Chinese universities contribute to defence research
Last month's announcements by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aimed at increasing synergies between universities and the private sector are
UAE/PAKISTAN : Emirati bankers extra-vigilant in Islamabad after fall of Imran Khan
By agreeing on 7 April to extend the deadline for repayment of a $2bn loan they granted the State Bank
SAUDI ARABIA/KUWAIT/UNITED KINGDOM : No more lifeline in Riyadh for King Saud bin Abdulaziz's son in London court case
On 31 March, the British High Court rejected Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud's appeal not to be judged in
FRANCE : Major security deal at strategic nickel mine up for grabs
The race is on to bag the security contract for a nickel mine in New Caledonia, one of the most
AFRICA/UNITED STATES : Intelligence provider HSS pursues its African ventures despite legal woes
HSS Development (formerly Homeland Security Strategies), a regular at ISS World, is preparing to introduce its new IMSI-catcher interception system,
ISRAEL/SINGAPORE : PCS increasingly essential to Israeli cyber specialists in the city-state
Israeli cyber specialists are finding it increasingly difficult to establish themselves in Singapore. The island city-state, historically an assiduous buyer of Israeli cyber tools (IO, 13/11/19),...
GERMANY/CHINA/FRANCE : Continental European analysts muscle into UK's China bailiwick
EastisRed, a Paris-based firm specialising in investigations and analysis of China, has just published a new report on that country's
ARGENTINA/CHINA : Ambassador Sabino Vaca Narvaja promotes Chinese interests in Argentina
Diving into the influence wars between the US and China in Buenos Aires, Argentina's federal prosecutor Guillermo Marijuan ordered a
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Chevron appoints David Merkel, defender of Kazakhstan's jailed ex-spymaster Massimov
According to our sources, US oil company Chevron has contracted consultant David Merkel, a former State Department and White House
RUSSIA : Moscow's shadow advisers, intelligence officers and lobbyists lay low
When rumours started circulating in the Ukrainian media on 11 April that Vladislav Surkov, a former Russian military intelligence officer
IRAQ : Talks on TotalEnergies' mega contract blocked in the final stages
The $27bn mega contract awarded to TotalEnergies in Iraq on 5 September 2021 (IO, 08/09/21), following the visit made by French president Emmanuel
EUROPE : Big data analytics specialist TRG changes shareholder and sharpens European strategy
Cyprus-based TRG Research And Development, chaired by the Israeli Oren Jack Feldmann, has swapped one Romanian-Monegasque businesswoman for another. Maria-Antoaneta
UNITED STATES/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Fallen FBI star Mark Rossini in spotlight again over missions for Soriano
Mark Rossini, a former FBI representative in Alec Station, the CIA-led unit that led the hunt for al-Qaeda before 9/11, is always ready to complain to the media about CIA mistakes that undermined...
UNITED KINGDOM : Defence Intelligence seeks stronger collaboration with the private sector
Closed on Monday 18 April, the search for a new director of strategy and enterprise services (DS&ES) at Defence Intelligence (DI),
AUSTRALIA/UKRAINE : Australia becomes last Five Eyes member to join support effort for Ukraine
After British PM Boris Johnson's visit on 11 April and US President Joe Biden and Canada's Justin Trudeau following President
EUROPE : Contract-hungry industry tries to weigh in as Interpol charts standards for anti-drone measures
The Interpol Drone Expert Summit (IDES), which the international criminal police organisation is hosting along with Norwegian police and the
EUROPE : After success in the US, Poland's Datawalk sets its sights on Europe
Polish big data analysis firm Datawalk, which announced it will provide its platform to the UN on 8 April, is turning its
EUROPE/POLAND : Thales and Airbus compete for Polish spy satellites contract
Prompted by the rumble of Russia's military onslaught in Ukraine, Poland has been going all out to strengthen its armed forces' intelligence capacities. It is looking to acquire either two optica...
EUROPE/FRANCE/LIBYA : Battle rages for security contracts in Libya
According to our sources, security company Amarante International, along with its Canadian partner and subcontractor GardaWorld have just won the
RUSSIA/SYRIA : Russia caught between Kurdish and Syrian forces in Syria
Despite the demands of its war in Ukraine, Russia is in no position to ease up its engagement in Syria
EUROPE : Norwegian sovereign wealth fund targets cyber-intelligence
Keen to follow Norwegian Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum's instruction to divest all its holdings in Russia, Norway's sovereign wealth
AUSTRIA/RUSSIA : Vienna's large spy population under close observation
Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer's surprise visit to Moscow on 11 April caused some murmuring in Kyiv, which the former defence
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/RUSSIA : Buoyed by Russian sanctions, Chainalysis corners European crypto probe market
The Austrian interior ministry's 11 April invitation for bids to supply cryptocurrency transaction analysis software reflects European states' growing need
CHINA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/GEORGIA/IRAQ/RUSSIA : PKK leaders, DGSI, SCO, DoS in Georgia, France-Ukraine
Iraq - PKK renews high command's mandate and reaffirms strategic prioritiesAccording to our sources, the Kurdish militant political organisation, the
CHINA/UKRAINE : In Kyiv, Chinese state security conveys Beijing's offer to mediate
A team from China's state security ministry, the Guoanbu, remains firmly in place in Kyiv, according to our sources. There
CENTRAL ASIA/FRANCE : French, Americans, Chinese and Russians vie for Kazakhstan's nuclear programme
Given the readiness of European, American and Asian companies to present their proposals for its nuclear power plant project, the
FRANCE : Macron lays plans for French National Security Council
The French president's chief of the military staff moved into the Hotel Marigny, already home to the National Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence Coordination (French acronym CNRLT), next to th...
FRANCE/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : Control Risks Group, Tata Consulting Services, Volexity, Maisha Group
London, Singapore: Control Risks Group snaps up Big Four veteran investigator Michael Peer. In April, Michael Peer joined Control Risks
AUSTRALIA : The Melbourne Central Lion, the pub where Australian intelligence keeps an eye on Beijing
Bang in the middle of the coastal capital of Australia's southeast state of Victoria, the country's most European city known
AUSTRALIA/UAE/IRAQ : Gary Creighton to help Ricklefs' Namea Group grow in the Gulf
Australian Gary Creighton joined the advisory board of Namea Group at the beginning of April. In his new role Creighton
Europe : RCS Lab leads new owner Cy4gate's European growth goals
The Italian cyber intelligence company Cy4gate's acquisition of Aurora, a conglomerate that includes the Italian lawful interception specialist RCS Lab,
KAZAKHSTAN : ENRC trio and KNB win against US oil company
The Kazakhstan government requested the exequatur of a decision in its favour against the American oil company Big Sky Energy
QATAR : Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Misnad plays Emir's private diplomat
The Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has some weighty diplomatic affairs to attend to these days, between
AFGHANISTAN/CHINA : Guoanbu calls on ISI to cooperate with Taliban secret services
Intelligence Online understands that a large delegation from the Chinese ministry of State Security, or Guoanbu (IO, 28/10/21), held an
ISRAEL : Shin Bet criticised for human intelligence failures
The wave of panic which swept through the Israeli population and political class at the end of March, following a
SAUDI ARABIA : Riyadh uses Spire Solutions deal to attract fresh cyber education capacity
By signing a partnership agreement on 14 March with Emirates-based Spire Solutions, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP),
GERMANY : US defence industry preps ahead of German contracts rush
The announcement that Julia Friedlander, a former CIA analyst who served on the White House's National Security Council, is to
TURKEY : InterProbe launches Turkish cyber-intel in Silicon Valley
Turkish cyber interception provider InterProbe is preparing to open premises in the United States, in California's technology epicentre, Silicon Valley, by 2023. Interprobe is already well establ...
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Former Saudi defence business supremo Khaled bin Sultan battles on in London courts
By again postponing a final decision on the case involving Saudi prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (KbS),
UNITED STATES : Thales still counts on top Democrat Tom Daschle's Pentagon connections
Thales can thank its Washington lobbyists, not the least The Daschle Group, for helping it win a $6.1bn contract to
LEBANON : Bahaa Hariri establishes multiple support platforms ahead of Lebanon's general elections
It came as no surprise when Bahaa Hariri, the eldest son of Rafic Hariri, officially announced the launch of his
CHINA/FRANCE : Mystery surrounds pseudonymous co-author of paper detailing MP's links to Beijing
The best friend of the protagonist in Francois Truffaut's 1959 New Wave coming-of-age drama The 400 Blows, René Bigey helps the film's wronged
KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan's security council drafts new military doctrine
Shaken by the protests in January, the Kazakh government is trying to walk a fine line between its safe political distance
RUSSIA/MYANMAR : Kremlin's favourite OSINT expert helps Russian plans in Myanmar
According to our sources, Andrei Masalovich, the head of the Russian open source intelligence (OSINT) firm Lavina Pulse, spent the
CHINA : Beijing spoilt for choice between its two maritime transport giants Cosco and CMP
The publicly owned China Merchant Port (CMP) notched up another victory in the battle to broaden China's stamp on European
UKRAINE : Igor Kolomoisky, Ukraine's most wanted oligarch
Where is Igor Kolomoisky? Is he still in Ukraine or has he left the country? Questions regarding the whereabouts of the Ukrainian oligarch since the beginning of the Russian war on Ukraine on 24 ...
FRANCE : Paris banks on big data to counter foreign economic threats
The strategic information and economic security service (SISSE - Service de l'information Stratégique et de la Sécurité Economique) of the French
UNITED STATES : Beijing, not Moscow, spoils Biden's intelligence nominees
In her confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) on 6 April for the position of CIA
China : Backed by Beijing, security firm Frontier Services Group makes push into Southeast Asia
Frontier Services Group (FSG), the security and logistics firm founded by Erik Prince, former Blackwater founder, is hoping that China's moves
BELARUS : Power-struggles cause turmoil in Minsk security circles
In Belarusian communication circles, influence campaigns are in full swing between the regime's competing factions. There have even been claims
UAE/FRANCE : CMA CGM lands France's Dubai Expo 2020 pavilion repatriation deal
Dubai's Expo 2020 was officially closed on 31 March by the UAE's Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimi who
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Arqit plays key role in big quantum encryption projects under development in US and UK
British quantum encryption specialist Arqit has strengthened its sales force through the recruitment of Stephen Beeching as head of its government and defence
UKRAINE : Kyiv seeks to harness oligarchs to war effort
Igor Kolomoisky (IO, 01/09/21) has been keeping a low public profile since he celebrated his birthday on 13 February in his fiefdom of Dnipro. But other Ukrainian businessmen have become very pro...
FRANCE/GEORGIA/TURKEY : Hamas in Turkey, GPIS in Paris, NATO in Georgia
Palestine/Israel/Turkey: Ankara and Tel Aviv are talking again - to Hamas's dismayThe MIT, Turkish intelligence services, has reportedly placed new
FRANCE : Vidaud's surprise exit from military intelligence turns the armed forces upside down
The vacancy created by the surprise resignation of Eric Vidaud from the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM) is having a
TURKEY/UKRAINE : How Ankara is luring the best minds of Kyiv's defence industry
Intelligence Online understands that Turkey has granted refugee status to more than a hundred engineers from the Ukrainian defence industry
FRANCE : After Frontex disappointment, Airborne ISR specialist PAL launches partnership with Thales
A partnership between defence electronics company Thales and Canadian airborne ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) specialist PAL Aerospace was announced
RUSSIA : Kremlin spymaster tightens screws at Russian Security Council
Kremlin Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, a hardline silovik who is close to President Vladimir Putin (IO du 23/11/21), has been consolidating the advisory body he has headed for the past...
UNITED STATES : Former FBI officer turned investigator for oligarchs Richard Frankel exposed in New York
An Eastern District of New York court accepted a discovery application on 5 April from the investigation website Forensic News,
CHINA : Ex-President Jiang Zemin's clan targeted by fresh anti-corruption campaign
The latest forced resignations in Chinese President Xi Jinping's new anti-corruption campaign bear the hallmark of a campaign against ex-president
UAE/IRAQ : Masrour Barzani works his charm in UAE to save oil contracts
Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), just travelled to UAE for the second time in just
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Arcanum, Wallbrook, Kroll
Paris - End of Arcanum in France Ron Wahid's Arcanum Global Intelligence closed its French office at the end of
TAIWAN : Chen Ming-tong leads intelligence efforts to resist China
Chen Ming-tong, who has been Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's right-hand man since his appointment as head of the National Security
FRANCE : Special forces prepare Toujouse handover amid tense context
Whether it happens this summer or next year, the replacement of Bertrand Toujouse at the head of the special operations
UAE/IRAN : Dubai's Iranian Club provides discreet haven for mullahs on leave
The Oud Metha road, in Dubai's residential neighbourhood of the same name, is lined with national clubs, establishment that serve
UKRAINE : Russian-Dutch OSINT firm Social Links suffers collateral damage from Ukraine war
The Ukrainian OSINT community were dubitative when Andrey Kulikov, the head of the Russian-Dutch open source intelligence (OSINT) company Social
LEBANON : UK court ruling requires SGBL and Audi bank to hand over dollars
On March 25 the UK's High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, issued detailed reasons for its Feburary 28 ruling
SAUDI ARABIA/YEMEN : Saudi strategists sceptical of Yemen truce
Decreed on 31 March under the aegis of Hans Grundberg, the United Nations (UN) special envoy for Yemen, the truce
CHINA/UNITED KINGDOM : Communist party's gene giant MGI sets foot in Europe
After setting up offices in San Jose in the United States, Kobe in Japan, Riga in Lithuania and Dubai in
UAE : Tahnoon places his cronies to spearhead cyber offensive flagship CPX
Abu Dhabi's new cyberoffensive firm CPX is gradually taking shape, with national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and four of his trusted allies now on its leadership. New appointment...
GEORGIA/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Lord Michael Spencer takes step towards Bank of Georgia amid Russia-West friction
According to our sources, the London holding company IPGL, chaired by Conservative Party regular donor Michael Spencer - knighted in
CHINA : Beijing's influence strategy drives China's penetration of Pacific Isles
By signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands on 31 March, Beijing paved the way for a Chinese military
ISRAEL/LITHUANIA/UKRAINE : Israel's Skylock brought into Ukrainian anti-drone battlefield by Lithuania's NT Service
Lithuania ordered more EDM-4s Skysweeper anti-drone rifles, which are being used by Ukrainian soldiers, from NT Service last month. Concerned
FRANCE : Aleteyan markets lie detector to French firms facing corporate threats
A small firm called Aleteyan - whose name is an allusion to the ancient philosophical term aletheia, which means truth
CENTRAL ASIA/CHINA : Cheng Guoping spreads Beijing's voice through training workshops for security officials
Afghanistan, still an ongoing concern for Beijing, was the main topic covered in the most recent meeting, held from 30
UAE/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Athena Intelligence investigates in Gulf Petrochem oil trader wars
A British court refused to allow Euronav, the Belgian shipping company founded by the Saverys family, to amend its defence
GERMANY : After Finfisher's demise, Berlin explores cyber tool options
The declaration of insolvency on 1 April of German cyber-intelligence technology firm Finfisher Labs, means that the ZITIS, the German
UNITED KINGDOM : Accountants go after corporate investigators
As Intelligence Online understands, the investigator Ksenia Batmanova has left the Kroll family's intelligence company, K2 Integrity, to join the investigation division of the accounting firm Gra...
FRANCE/ISRAEL/TURKEY : Paris takes tentative step towards world's drone capitals Tel Aviv and Istanbul
At the end of March, a delegation of French businesses specialising in drones travelled to Israel to meet with industry
FRANCE/QATAR : Paris's seduction campaign in Qatar
On 26 and 27 March, a multitude of international political and economic figures met in the halls of the Sheraton
UAE/FRANCE : In pursuit of international expansion ambitions, Sekoia prospects at Dubai's GISEC cybersecurity expo
The French threat intelligence firm Sekoia was on a mission at the GISEC cybersecurity exhibition in Dubai on 21-23 March.
ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN : The fate of Nagorno-Karabakh hinges on the war in Ukraine
Despite the rapprochement between Baku and Yerevan launched in mid-December, just under a year after a ceasefire was declared in
CHINA : Xi Jinping reveals plan for new state technologies
Chinese officials have had a flurry of meetings with tech giants Tencent, Alibaba and ByteDance to discuss China's internet governance (IO,
FRANCE : Data privacy watchdog reins in spy agencies over IP counterintelligence databases
Before a 15 March decree formalised the creation of several ministerial - and one inter-ministerial - databases for a new
BULGARIA/EUROPE : Airbus Helicopters' Bulgarian client wants to see results
Bulgaria had until 26 March to issue a delivery verification certificate on upgrades made to several AS532 Cougar helicopters by
UAE/ISRAEL/MOROCCO : UAE, Israel and Morocco build business relations in wake of Abraham Accords
The Negev Summit, which took place on 28 March at the highly symbolic location of Sde Boker, the last home of Israel's founder David Ben Gourion, marked a new step in the Abraham Accords regional...
UNITED KINGDOM : Falklands return to heart of British intelligence concerns
As Vicky Ford, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), noted in Westminster on 29
FRANCE : DRM shaken by chief Eric Vidaud's sudden exit
After having ordered the French chief of defence staff (CEMA), Thierry Burkhard, to request the head of the French military
UAE/FRANCE : UAE's sovereign fund Tawazun seeks military procurement role in the French mould
According to our sources, the UAE's national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan is pursing his shakeup of the
FRANCE : Safran still pushing for its optronic surveillance ball to feature in French ISR plans
As France steps up its intelligence programmes, Safran has launched a commercial offensive for its Euroflir 410 optronic pod. The
BELARUS : Minsk securocrats team up with dissidents to paint a picture of occupation
Recent weeks have seen an unusual notion gain traction in Belarus. Boosted by photos of the Russian flag flying on buildings in Minsk alongside the national flag, the idea is increasingly being p...
RUSSIA/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Axel Krueger, Swiss adviser for oil traders, in Gazprombank's sights
In a ruling that went in favour of mining and oil industry consultant Axel Krueger and paves the way for
CHINA/EGYPT/FRANCE/JORDAN : Mukhabarat in Sinai, Jordan's GID and Ukraine, Wang Yi, France's ANSSI
Egypt - Abbas Kamel oversees new tribal group fighting against Islamic State in Sinai Egypt's general intelligence service, the Mukhabarat
IRAN : Iran hands reins of nuclear intelligence to the Pasdarans
Intelligence Online understands that after 11 months of planning, Iran's intelligence has launched its brand new Nuclear Service, which is
SOUTH KOREA/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : France, UK, muscle into Seoul's Indo-Pacific plans
South Korea is now the new target of France's and the UK's Indo-Pacific campaigns. After trying to impose their vision
RUSSIA : Dmitry Kochnev keeps watch over the Kremlin
Russia's offensives in Ukraine have led inevitably to a closing of ranks around Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Russian president,
FRANCE : Le Lutin, Corsican intelligence hot spot in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron's recent openness to discussing greater autonomy for Corsica has certainly set tongues wagging at 2 bis,
UAE/FRANCE/QATAR : Armed with their major anti-drone contract, CS Group and Thales look to break into the Gulf
Buoyed by its success in the call for tenders for the Parade market of France's DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement) as revealed
UAE/TURKEY : Turkey's Abu Dhabi cyber charm offensive flops at GISEC
According to our sources, Ankara sent a delegation of diplomatic and industrial representatives to last month's GISEC exhibition in Dubai
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : RosettiStarr, Farrant, Audere, ICSID/Paris Arbitration Week
Washington - ICSID establishes framework for litigation funding.It was the big subject at Paris Arbitration Week, which brought lawyers, litigation
SYRIA : Former French ambassador Charles-Henri d'Aragon helps lift EU sanctions on Syrian magnate
Despite his connections with Damascus's business community (see our Insiders special report, 16/09/20), the European Union took the unusual step of
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : US oil industry moves to protect its interests in the Caspian sea
The US Treasury Department's assurance, added to the executive order issued by the White House on 8 March stating that
CHINA/UNITED KINGDOM : United Front expands soft power with new operations centre in London
Even as the United Kingdom's attention is caught up in the conflict in Ukraine, China continues to build its soft
FRANCE : French domestic intelligence service invited to join military cyber R&D center
Well away from the Campus Cyber in Paris, the technical department of France's international intelligence service, the DGSI, is to
NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA : South Korea president-elect puts intelligence services on war footing against Pyongyang
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has not yet taken up residence in the Blue House, but he has already urged the National
UNITED STATES : US Navy boosts ISR drone capacity
By renewing its contract with Insitu on 11 March for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services carried by drones, the
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/UKRAINE : In war, Israeli cyber firms leave and US cyber firms land
On 13 March, the US facial recognition firm Clearview announced in Reuters that the Ukrainian defence ministry had asked for its assistance, in a move that underscores a shift in Ukraine towards ...
LEBANON : Riad Salamé plays for time ahead of May general election
Banque du Liban (Bank of Lebanon, BDL) governor Riad Salamé (IO, 16/02/22), who was formally charged with illicit enrichment on
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Ukraine's US lobbyists target New York City Hall
In recent weeks, New York City Hall has been one of the busiest centres of communication between the authorities in
SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi Nuclear Energy Holding Company to spearhead MbS's nuclear ambitions
Speaking outside of an International Atomic Energy Agency session on 12 March, the Saudi representative to the UN agency Abdullah
ISRAEL : Paragon, NSO's successor as new star of cyber infiltration, takes on new investors
Over the past few weeks, Israel's cyber-intelligence firm Paragon Solutions has been issuing new shares, most recently on 16 March.
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : EU anti-corruption investigators under fire in Seychelles
Lawyers from Washington law firm Kobre & Kim have been trying to attract the attention of the international press on their new high profile case in Seychelles, defending members of the entourage ...
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : Nazarbayev-era big shots secure French Riviera boltholes
The Kazakh oligarchs who made their fortunes under former president Nursultan Nazarbayev (IO, 24/03/22) are keeping a low profile as
FRANCE : French armed forces general staff prioritises information warfare capacities
In recent weeks, the French chief of defence staff, Gen. Thierry Burkhard, has set a new goal to bring the
UNITED KINGDOM : Former Bishop executives set up new company Silverbridge Intelligence
New corporate intelligence company Silverbridge Intelligence, the launch of which has been in preparation since the end of last year
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Former Johnson senior adviser Edward Udny-Lister connects with Riyadh
During his visit to Riyadh on 16 March, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who
RUSSIA : Russian gold king Grachev tries to distance himself from the heirs of Putin's entourage
Following the wave of Western resignations from the boards of directors of major Russian companies, the big names in Russian
UNITED STATES : NGA's intelligence cloud contract signals ultimate demise of JEDI project
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) confirmed on 18 March that it had secured a major cloud contract with the National
EUROPE/UKRAINE/ESTONIA : EU piles on border protection contracts for eastern front
In recent weeks, the European Union has hired a dozen companies to consolidate the work of its security agencies on
FRANCE/INDONESIA : New corruption probe threatens French contract hopes in Jakarta
Indonesia has the keen attention of the French defence industry these days and, on 15 March, Indonesia's defence minister Prabowo Subianto visited Paris to sit down with President Emmanuel Macron...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Space imaging provider Planet on a seduction mission in Paris
On 11 March, the US geospatial intelligence start-up Planet registered its agent with the French high authority for transparency in
UAE : Abu Dhabi officially gives cyber offence industry a makeover
The GISEC conference, held from 21 to 23 March in Abu Dhabi, gave head of cybersecurity Mohamed Hamad al-Kuwaiti the
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Schillings, the last safe haven for Russia-focused investigators
Rayna Milkova is reportedly the latest investigator specialising in Russian cases to join lawyer Keith Schilling's investigation consultancy Schillings, which
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/FRANCE/ISRAEL/KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : Israeli ...m, Turkish-Kazakh cooperation, Macron decorates special forces
Israel/Gulf - Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Manama eye Tel Aviv's anti-missile shield After Israeli defence ministry director general Amir Eshel
CHINA/UKRAINE : Xi Jinping and Zelensky set to speak
Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky are set to speak in the next few days. Zelensky has made repeated requests for
SWEDEN : New Swedish anti-fake news agency boosts online investigation capacity to counter Russian threat
New Swedish counter-disinformation agency Myndigheten för Psykologiskt Försvar (MPF) issued a tender call on 16 March so as to strengthen
UAE/SYRIA : Spymaster Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan plays tour operator for Bashar al-Assad
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's much longed for first trip to an Arab country since 2011 was made possible by a plane sent by the Emirati authorities, according to our sources. The aircraft ca...
FRANCE/RUSSIA : As top French firms quit Russia, what next for their local security contractors?
The gradual withdrawal from Russia of CAC40 firms and French luxury goods companies is causing some disquiet among their local
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : US intelligence got confirmation of Russia's plans to invade Ukraine on 18 January
Although the Western allies now present a united front in terms of economic sanctions and political messaging, even though the
UNITED KINGDOM : Wind of change at London's Special Forces Club
Discretion has always been the watchword at London's legendary Special Forces Club (SFC). The elite gathering place, not referenced on
ISRAEL : Gaby Portnoy brings military intelligence background to INCD
Gaby Portnoy, who was appointed head of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) in February, does not appear to be
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Britain's MASS Consultants builds Saudi Arabia's electronic warfare capacities
British military data management specialist MASS is hiring electronic threat monitoring experts to beef up its electronic intelligence team for
SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Athena in crypto, Dominic Armstrong, Control Risks
London: Ex-Aegis Armstrong launches Horatius Advisory.According to our sources, former Aegis Defence Services (ADS)'s intelligence branch director Dominic Armstrong has
ISRAEL : Israeli drone pioneer Ephraim Menashe runs into flak over suspected unauthorised sales to China
Freewheeling businessman Ephraim Menashe, who is currently being investigated by the Israeli state prosecution service, is waiting to be charged.
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/LEBANON : With Hezbollah in the firing line, Washington wins Mazen al-Atat's extradition from Paris
Earlier this month, the US officially praised through State Department spokesman Ned Price, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's (STL, IO,
SAUDI ARABIA/OMAN : Riyadh and Muscat lock horns over Iranian weapon deliveries
The seizure on 10 March of a new shipment of Kornet anti-tank missiles at the Shahn crossing in the Yemeni
KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhtelecom symbolises Nazarbayev clan sleaze
The arrest of Kairat Satybaldy, the nephew of Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 13 March is the latest move by Kazakhstan's President
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Russian gold still luring London consultants
The gold mining company Polyus is among the Russian groups hit by the departure of British and US directors. Four
EUROPE : Italian bitCorp starts to dabble in cyberdefence
It would appear Italian bitCorp (IO, 07/07/21) is developing its own Trojan horse for the public prosecutor in Milan, which
FRANCE : French intelligence ship Dupuy-de-Lôme caught in storm over ELINT system replacements
The French intelligence ship Dupuy-de-Lôme is having trouble with its electronic intelligence (ELINT) technology, as Intelligence Online reported last week (IO, 16/03/22). The process for acquir...
SYRIA : Bashar Al-Assad confirms hold on telecoms sector with launch of new operator Wafa
The Syrian telecommunications sector has been undergoing a period of turbulence and is still being restructured. Despite announcing its departure
UAE/IRAN : Iran nurtures Dubai business circles as lukewarm Expo 2020 draws to a close
Dubai's Expo 2020 will close on 31 March with mixed results. While the event was designed to focus the world's
CHINA/UNITED KINGDOM : FarStar bats for Chinese companies in London
Shandong Xintengda Metal Technology, a new steel conglomerate founded in China in February, has opened an office in London. Like
CHINA : China's PLA and United Front launch recruitment drive
A campaign to recruit more highly qualified candidates to the People's Liberation Army and China's influence entities got underway on
CHINA/ITALY : Palermo resisting Beijing's grip on Italian ports
Intelligence Online has discovered that the port of Palermo, in Sicily, has just dropped out of a €5bn investment deal
TURKEY : Secure network specialist DataFlowX backed by Havelsan in Dubai
The Turkish pavilion at the GISEC cyber security trade fair in Dubai (21 to 23 March) is currently hosting the
UNITED KINGDOM : Oligarch crackdown shakes up private investigation sector
It is hard to get information these days from corporate intelligence professionals whose work concerns Russian oligarchs. "Why give information to you when the Department of Justice pays for it?"...
UNITED STATES/QATAR : Qatar appoints Capitol Hill veterans to seal rapprochement with US administration
The Qatari embassy in Washington registered Omar Franco and Chris Berardini of the law firm Becker & Poliakoff on the
KUWAIT : After successive government resignations, Emir of Kuwait restructures security
On 9 March the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah appointed both a new Deputy Prime Minister and
GERMANY/UNITED STATES : How a small Lockheed squad helped the F-35 land in Berlin
On 14 March, before Berlin's scheduled order of 35 F-35 planes from Lockheed Martin, Peter Lütz, head of aeronautical engineering
FRANCE : France hired security firms to withdraw foreign citizens from Ukraine
The Russian military assault on Ukraine that began on 24 February and the subsequent retreat towards the West prompted several
RUSSIA/SYRIA : Syria has long wait for Russian MiG-29
As it continues its war in Ukraine, Moscow knows it can count on the support of Syria as a rear base, afer six years engagement in the Syrian conflict (IO, 08/03/22) and an even longer bilateral ...
UAE/UNITED STATES : US cyber firm NetAbstraction turns to French consultant Marc Kassis to break into Gulf
The GISEC security fair in Dubai, which opened its doors on Monday, has provided an opportunity for the US cloud
FRANCE : CS Group-Thales consortium wins French military's €350m anti-drone "Parade" contract
The Protection déployAble modulaiRe Anti-DronEs (Parade) contract put out to tender by French military procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l'Armement
FRANCE/RUSSIA : After years of success, Deripaska's strategy in France has been thwarted
A Russian flag removed in the Courchevel ski resort, a star dancer quits the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet, Russian personalities confined
FRANCE : Ben Scott and Pierre Omidyar's anti-disinfo lobby monitoring French elections
Intelligence Online understands that a new fake news tracking organisation GVNIE (Groupe de veille numérique à l'intégrité électorale) put together
BAHRAIN/CHINA/FRANCE/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : GCHQ's cyber academy, Kochavi in Manama, Li Keqiang's succession, DGSI training
China - Xi Jinping's PM choices both from security worldFollowing Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang's press conference on 11 March,
IRAN/LEBANON/SYRIA : Between Beirut and Tehran, Ali Mamlouk gets back into regional affairs
Off the scene for a while, Syria's National Security Bureau chief Ali Mamlouk (IO, 07/01/22) has reemerged this month, reappearing
CHINA/EUROPE : For its secure communications, EU diplomacy seeks to replace Chinese provider Hytera
By issuing a new tender call for the supply of secure communications systems to its overseas delegations on 7 March,
FRANCE : Russia-Ukraine war prompts France to patch over deep intelligence gaps
While France's military budget should maintain its upward trend as planned, the conflict in Ukraine could have a significant impact on where the extra funds will be spent. The most pressing needs...
TURKMENISTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Away from Russian tensions, energy consultants prosper in the Caspian region
Away from the current pressures on Russian oil and gas companies, the Oil & Gas of Turkmenistan (OGT-2022) international forum,
SINGAPORE/UNITED KINGDOM : Protection Group International, The Risk Advisory Group
London: PGI loses its cyber chief.Meredith Patton, head of cyber operations at British security outfit Protection Group International (PGI), is
IRAQ : Caretaker PM Mustafa Al Kazemi maintains grip on Falcon Cell
Mustafa Al Kazemi, who remains caretaker prime minister as protracted government negotiations continue (IO, 01/02/22), still has a grip on
SAUDI ARABIA/PAKISTAN : Islamabad seeks Saudi funds to finance military industry
Launched with great fanfare, the first edition of the World Defense Show (WDS, IO, 14/03/22) in Riyadh on 6-9 March
TAIWAN : TeamT5, from Chinese cyber threat to counter-influence
A report from the Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360 on 2 March on the advanced persistant threat group (APT) APT-C-40,
ISRAEL : Jem's Beer Factory provides a safe haven for NSO Group and Apple cyber experts in Herzliya
It is at Jem's Beer Factory in colourful Maskit Street in the seaside town of Herzliya, cradle of the Israeli high-tech
UKRAINE : Oleksii Reznikov, the man at the heart of Zelensky's counter-offensive
Oleksii Reznikov, who was placed in charge of the defence ministry on 4 November, just a few hours after the
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Couach back in Saudi shipbuilding game
France's ambassador in Riyadh, Ludovic Pouille, gushed with enthusiasm on Twitter on 9 March about Couach and Saudi firm International
MALAYSIA/RUSSIA : Europe, Turkey and Japan vie for Malaysian gas
Tengku Mohammad Taufik, the CEO of the Malaysian liquefied natural gas group Petronas, has been a popular man since 24
BAHRAIN/UAE/ISRAEL/UNITED KINGDOM : UK cyber specialists lose ground as Bahrain strengthens its links with the UAE
The new British cyber security ambassador Juliette Wilcox, who was put in charge of the UK's cyber diplomatic service just
SAUDI ARABIA : PHI Solutions is Riyadh's new cyber offensive champion
The World Defense Show, which took place in Riyadh from 6 to 9 March, offered Saudi Arabia an opportunity to
GERMANY/FRANCE/ITALY : Germany and Italy come to forefront at global intelligence summits
As Covid-19 restrictions abate around the world and organisers can once again plan large-scale cyber gatherings, it is possible to see a shift in the countries represented: there is a clear decli...
INDIA/SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Corporate raider Nat Rothschild exposes his relationship with Indian ex-hacker Rajat Khare
Nathaniel Rothschild, the Swiss-based financier from the British branch of the European banking family who has a taste for large-scale
FRANCE : Rohde & Schwarz seeks bigger role on French spy ship
The French intelligence ship Dupuy-de-Lôme, which left its base in Brest at the beginning of March, is struggling with its
UAE/ITALY : Leonardo Bellodi, the Italian helping the UAE present its anti-money laundering credentials
Leonardo Bellodi has his work cut out for him as Russia's wealthy move their investments to the United Arab Emirates,
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Sanctions against Gennady Timchenko reveal the extent of his French presence
Throughout the waves of fresh European sanctions that have been dished out since the beginning of the Russian offensive in
CHINA/UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Strider's EU evangelism on tech theft committed by China
Greg Levesque, co-founder alongside his brother Eric Levesque of the intelligence company Strider, was invited on 11 March to take
KAZAKHSTAN/SINGAPORE : Singapore's PSA opens up virtual steppes to the New Silk Road
Alongside the growing number of Belt & Road Initiative projects in Europe (IO, 11/03/22), investments are also under way in Central
UNITED STATES : Amit Forlit latest target in RAK princes' hacking wars
On 8 March, lawyers acting for Farhad Azima filed a motion for discovery in the Southern District of Florida against Insight Analysis & Research and SDC-Gadot, two investigation companies registe...
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/POLAND/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Warsaw serves ... for Western military reaction to Russian offensive in Ukraine
Most of the weapons being sent to help Ukraine defend itself from the Russian forces are transiting via Poland via
FRANCE : Plans to strengthen French intelligence in the Indo-Pacific stalled
French MPs Monica Michel-Brassart and Laurence Trastour-Isnart, from the defence and armed forces committee, presented a report on defence issues
KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : Turkish defence group Aselsan pursues partnership with Nur-Sultan
Aselsan chairman Haluk Gorgun's trip to Kazakhstan highlighted the important liaison role Ziya Yusuf Camoglu has played in the Turkish
UKRAINE : Anglo-Dutch alliance to monitor Russian cryptocurrency transactions for Ukraine
Seeking to take every measure possible to stop Russia getting round international sanctions, Ukraine has signed a deal with the
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Lockheed Martin's proactive strategy key to making its THAAD essential to Riyadh
The announcement was made in the corridors of the first World Defense Show, which brought together all the defence industrialists in Riyadh from 6 to 9 March (IO, 14/03/22). Gasem Al Maimani, vic...
IRAQ/LEBANON : Lebanon's Primesouth tries to shake off Iraqi impasse with ICSID trial
Adding to an already difficult position on its home turf, the Lebanese thermal power producer Primesouth Lebanon, a subsidiary of
GERMANY : With Slavic hydrogen supplies cut, Berlin goes for the Gulf
Berlin reacted quickly to the outbreak of war on 24 February between Russia and Ukraine, the two countries on which
UNITED STATES : CIA rolls out well-oiled plan on familiar turf in Ukraine
By reaffirming to the House Select Permanent Committee on Intelligence (HSPCI) on 8 March that Vladimir Putin's endgame is to
CHINA/EUROPEAN UNION : European Commission hires US's Rhodium to monitor Chinese investments
The European Commission awarded a fresh €1m contract to US firm Rhodium Group on 2 March, the firm's third in
PAKISTAN/RUSSIA : Rosfinmonitoring, Pakistan's ISI
Russia - Financial intelligence gagged The Kremlin has placed restrictions on freedom of expression on the financial intelligence service, the
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Ukraine war plunges Russian embassies in Europe into uncertainty
European capitals, seeking to prolong dialogue with Moscow, have not yet closed the Russian missions on their territory, as shutting
SAUDI ARABIA : MbS to follow World Defense Show with 'Davos of Aeronautics'
According to our sources, from 9 to 11 May Riyadh will host the Future Aviation Forum initiated by the Saudi
CHINA : Chinese state observation satellite slotted into SuperView-2 constellation
A state satellite provided by the Chinese government was discreetly added to the SuperView (SV) fleet of observation satellites operated
FRANCE : French government prepares satellite surveillance, under watchdog CNCTR's eye
France's postal and electronic communications law is currently undergoing amendments that will facilitate the requisition of satellite communications technology for
CHINA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Beijing, Moscow and Kyiv locked in secret negotiations
Ongoing secret talks to allow China to expand or acquire new stakes in Russian energy and materials firms have been multiplying of late. As Bloomberg reported on 9 March, four state-owned energy ...
UAE : Emirati cyber offensive business to be switched from Digital14 to CPX
Emirati company Digital14 (D14) - which has inherited some of the most strategic activities of the now extinct company, DarkMatter, including its
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : K2, Jonathan Benton, The Ambassador Partnership, Talos
New York - K2's NY office has busy agenda.K2 Integrity, the former K2 Intelligence, father and son Jules Kroll and
AFGHANISTAN/QATAR : Taliban seek funds to finance new army
While Qatar's diplomats continue to wait for the Taliban to present their plans for reform of the Afghan government there
FRANCE : France sets up 'CIA' to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation on crisis and threat anticipation
France's defence and national security secretariat, the SGDSN, has been looking since mid-February for an adviser to run its new
GERMANY : Bruno Kahl enters final months as BND chief amid major intelligence revamp
The anecdote went around the world: Bruno Kahl, the president of the BND, fled Kyiv for the Polish border in
CHINA/SERBIA : China's CCCC brings BRI from Belgrade into European Union
Although it lost out on digital collaboration (IO, 04/03/22), the recent Olympic Games brought success for China Communications Construction Co
CHINA : China sets up a cyber-Hogwarts to train its future cyber defence wizards
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which has issued a number of new internet regulations over the last few days,
QATAR : US and France keep watch on Qatar's pro-Ukraine shift
While the rest of the Gulf nations continue to show caution in their approach to the Russian offensive in Ukraine,
FRANCE : French government paves way for spatial requisitions
Mandated to cooperate on a rethink of French space innovation policy, seven startups that were integrated into the government and
EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Tallinn, rear base for Ukrainian cyber companies at war
The Ukrainian vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, has according to our sources, for the past few days been working on the procedural and legal issues of ...
FRANCE : Qwam-ADIT duo wants to be France's alternative to Relativity and FRA for forensics investigations
According to our sources, French corporate intelligence company ADIT has been using a tool based on Qwam Content Intelligence's Qwam
CHINA/KAZAKHSTAN : New generation of oligarchs shift attentions to Chinese space
Satellite operator OneWeb's announcement on 3 March that it was suspending launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan caused a
FRANCE : DGSE secures its public-private partnerships
By recruiting an adviser in intellectual property law this month, France's foreign intelligence agency, the DGSE, wants to be able to
CENTRAL ASIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Sir Suma Chakrabarti called to the rescue of Nur-Sultan and Tashkent
Central Asian countries' mounting apprehension over the impact of Western sanctions against Russia, on which their economies remain heavily dependent,
ISRAEL/TURKEY : Tel Aviv in tricky balancing act between Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Damascus
According to our sources, heated discussions have been going on at the Israeli National Security Council since the start of
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukraine war dampens French defence industry hopes in Kyiv
President Volodymyr Zelensky described Emmanuel Macron as a "true friend of Ukraine" at the start of the war. But despite
UNITED KINGDOM : British internal intelligence suppliers in courtroom battle
A ruling handed down on 25 February in the legal dispute between the secretive technical intelligence firm Excession Technologies and
UNITED KINGDOM : Sanctions race generates new market for investigation and assistance work for oligarchs
With lists of sanctions currently being issued against Russian oligarchs in the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom, lawyers and consultants can start preparing for the secon...
EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : How NATO prepared for a Russian offensive
After years of mastering various scenarios to prepare its member states for the possibility of a large scale Russian offensive
GERMANY/RUSSIA : At the heart of the H2O case, German financier Lars Windhorst appears close to oligarchs
The new European, Swiss, British and American sanctions against Russia, which came into effect on 22 February, could further weaken
RUSSIA/SYRIA : Syria, Russia's rear base in war on Ukraine
Determined to show his unwavering support to his sponsor, Bashar al-Assad had his ministers and advisers sent out messages of
UNITED STATES : FTI has front row seat of battle by ex-US intelligence official wrongly accused of spying
Stephen Wilcox, the newly appointed director of the export regulations and sanctions department at FTI Consulting in Washington, has not
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN/TURKEY : In view of Ukraine, Kazakhstan is ramping up its defence agreements and contracts
Kazakhstan, which has insisted on its neutrality in the Ukrainian conflict - reaffirmed on 3 March by Defence Minister Ruslan
TURKEY/UKRAINE : MIT drives Ankara's cautious pro-Ukraine stance
The Turkish deputy foreign minister Sedat Önal's statement on 3 March that a delivery of Turkish drones to Ukraine was
CHINA/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Beijing concerned about the threat to its commercial interests in Ukraine
Although European countries were pleased with China's decision to abstain rather than use its veto as expected in the vote
UNITED STATES : Maxar-Aurora pairing a fresh sign of imagery and RF interception synergies
The radio frequency (RF) monitoring firm Aurora Insight announced on 23 February that it had received a strategic investment from
UAE/RUSSIA : Abu Dhabi keeps its eye on oil, special operations and the Russian Arctic in its dealings with Moscow
Three days after abstaining from the UN Security Council vote on the "immediate, total and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine on 25 February, the United Arab Emirat...
RUSSIA : Alexander Zorin, the Russian security super envoy in Syria and Ukraine
One of Moscow's diplomatic-security strategists, Alexander Zorin, who had been handling Russia's Syrian case, has been in charge of Russia's
UNITED STATES : Novetta, State Department's favourite contractor for its psyops against Iran
A US State Department Inspector General's report on the Global Engagement Center's (GEC) use of subcontractors for its psyops against
EGYPT/IRAQ : Pentagon and Ukrainian titanium, Mukhabarat, PUK
United States: Pentagon preps to join titanium war In poor timing, given the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the National Defense
ISRAEL : Tel Aviv tiptoes into regional energy deal
Israel's Tamar and Leviathan gas fields - operated by a Chevron-led consortium (IO, 18/11/20) - have again just increased their
TURKEY : Turkey highlights safe satellite communication capacity to promote drone exports
According to our sources, CTech, a subsidiary of the state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is in the final stages of
RUSSIA : FSB, SVR, GRU: Russian intelligence faces up to its lack of foresight
Aside from a purported lack of effectiveness of its military offensives against the Ukraine, Moscow finds itself facing an admission of failure on several intelligence fronts, despite the fact th...
FRANCE/BELARUS : Alisia, the French operation that neutralised Lukashenko
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, Belarus's role has been fiercely scrutinised both by the West and by Russia
FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : How Paris prepared its intelligence services for the Russian offensive in Ukraine
A few hours before the arrival of the first Russian soldiers on Ukrainian soil, on 22 February, shortly after Vladimir
UNITED STATES/SINGAPORE/UNITED KINGDOM : StoneTurn, Nardello, Dragonfly, Deloitte & Touche
New York: StoneTurn brings in a local veteran to get itself off the ground in Singapore. StoneTurn, the legal advisory
CHINA : Zhao Kezhi, a fixture in Xi Jinping's public security ministry
"I am honored to ensure an environment in which the powerful strongholds in Chinese politics can hold their sessions and
BAHRAIN/QATAR : Qatar and Bahrain still squabbling despite end to blockade
Some bones of contention persist between Doha and Manama, as was made clear when Bahrain claimed that 50 of its
FRANCE : European court weakens France's defence against 'La Quadrature du Net' ruling
On 22 February, in case C-430-21, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that a national court
SAUDI ARABIA : Major National Guard support contracts look set to be put on the line
According to our sources, officials who handle the Saudi Arabian National Guard's (SANG) acquisitions have recently been talking to several
UAE/SERBIA : Serbia not fussy in choice of partners to boost national digital programme
The MoU signed between the Emirati artificial intelligence (AI) conglomerate Group 42 (G42) and the Serbian government on 17 February
ISRAEL : Israel and new Gulf allies consider setting up common security structure
Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, who paid a historic visit to Manama on 5 February, was there to consolidate relations
UAE/UNITED STATES : Ex-Circinus executives forge new careers in Abu Dhabi
The Malaysian 1MDB trial which opened in Brooklyn, New York, earlier this month is set to further expose Republican party
UAE : Abu Dhabi brings in L3Harris to help develop its airborne intelligence gathering capacity
The Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX), which closed in Abu Dhabi on 23 February, enabled Emirati arms procurement agency Tawazun to
EUROPE : SIO follows European cyber offensive consolidation trend with Asingit acquisition
The transalpine company SIO's acquisition of a stake in the Italian cyber intelligence start-up Asigint, announced on 22 February, comes
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Geospatial intelligence providers caught in the middle of Russia-Ukraine war
The news agency Reuters yet again used satellite images provided by Maxar on 17 February to support its report on the imminent arrival of Russian troops in Ukraine. The agency went on to state th...
MONGOLIA/RUSSIA : Kremlin sees value in business-savvy Mongolian MP Damdin Tsogtbaatar
The biggest name to receive one of the awards presented to Mongolian nationals by the Kremlin on 21 February was
FRANCE/LEBANON : CMA CGM targetted by allegations of collusion with Hezbollah
Though CMA CGM won the contract for the management of the Beirut container ship terminal on 17 February (IO, 17/02/22),
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Consultant Gautier Mangenot makes Franco-Russian business debut in uncertain climate
The organisation of the first Franco-Russian hydrogen forum, which is currently due to be held on 12 September, 10 months
CHINA : Christoph Nedophil Wang, academic promoter of China's new silk roads
The Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) investments report presented on 2 February by the Fudan University's Green Finance & Development
CHINA/UNITED STATES/NETHERLANDS/TAIWAN : Microchip technolo...ampion ASML tries to balance interests in China, US and Taiwan
The US subsidiary of the Dutch Advanced Semiconductor Material Lithography (ASML) group, which is currently relaunching a public relations campaign
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Pangu Lab, Chinese ally of Singapore's zero-day reseller Coseinc, exposes NSA cyber operations
Closely examined by cyber specialists in the US and Taiwan, the first threat intelligence report from China's Pangu Lab, published
UNITED STATES : Miami becomes new US corporate intelligence capital
Beyond the cliché of the private detective in a Hawaiian shirt, Miami, the capital of Latin American private investigation, is exploring new horizons. A number of corporate intelligence firms in...
FRANCE : Viginum slots into France administrative counterintelligence landscape
At a French senate hearing into the launch of a media campaign by the new French anti-foreign manipulation service Viginum,
FRANCE : French military intelligence agency tries out fusion cells
An information report submitted to France's National Assembly on 17 February by the information mission on defence issues in the
RUSSIA/UKRAINE/BELARUS : Belarus intelligence informed Moscow of jammed interception channels over Ukraine
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, the Belarusian military intelligence agency, the GRU, informed its Russian homologue, the GU
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Following Wagner's lead, RSB makes its move into Ukraine
According to our sources, RSB Group, the company founded by former officers of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, and
FRANCE : France's Share My Space promotes tools for safe space navigation
The orbital data and risk management specialist Share My Space and its consortium are, according to our sources, in the
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Recent turmoil worries Nur-Sultan's New York adviser Marcia Favale-Tarter
The clamping down by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev against his predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev's networks following January's violent protests in the country,
CHINA/ISRAEL : After Tel Aviv's underground service, Israel grows wary of further Chinese investment
A number of major public works in Tel Aviv connected to the city's new underground service have woken up the Israeli authorities to the growing Chinese presence in Israel's economy (IO, 24/02/22)...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : SNRP, Kazakh security service, SGDSN, DNI report on Chinese ports
Kazakhstan: Like the KNB, President Tokayev brings in allies to lead security service Continuing on from the restructuring of the
GERMANY/EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : Tom Enders supports anti-corruption firm Monarch
Young British-German corporate intelligence company Monarch, which is currently recruiting, presents itself as a new player in the European investigation
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Russian influence activists got busy behind recognition of Donbas republics
In his first move prior to military intervention, President Vladimir Putin's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk on 21 February coincided,
SAUDI ARABIA : Battalion of British consultants running Mohammed bin Salman's defence show
The large-scale World Defense Show (WDS), which will run from 6 to 9 March, and should put Riyadh on the
EUROPE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : NATO and Russia battle it out for control of Antonov transport fleet
At the heart of the conflict provoked by Moscow in Ukraine is the fate of the 11 Antonov cargo aircrafts
FRANCE : Cristal Group hunts Pegasus with ex-hacker Patrice Guichard's help
According to our sources, the French private investigation firm Cristal Group, founded by former lawyer Kevin Rivaton, is poised to
ARGENTINA/CHINA : China's hush-hush deals open doors to Argentine sovereign sectors
The fact that a large delegation of Argentinian officials is quietly planning a trip to China in March is confirmation that hiding behind Buenos Aires's deal with the International Monetary Fund ...
KAZAKHSTAN/EUROPEAN UNION : Former Kazakh KGB operatives to provide security for EU delegation in Nur-Sultan
Kazakh private sector security company Grupp Chetyre was awarded a six-year contract funded by the European External Action Service (EEAS)
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv and Moscow battling for control of European media narrative
To further its aim to keep a lid on information communicated about the Donbas conflict, on 21 February Kyiv created
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Raven Special Risks, CIFAL, Riskology, Sibylline
London - Former Control Risks exec Michael Haughey returns from Singapore. Michael Haughey, head of Asia-Pacific since January 2020 at
FRANCE/INDIA : Indian spymaster's son Shaurya Doval leads French defence industry promotion in New Delhi
France and its leading industrial companies are struggling to find their way in New Delhi lobbying circles. Recently, they came
UNITED STATES/MIDDLE EAST : Ex-NSA Keith Alexander firmly behind Amazon as it expands in Middle East
A confidential public contract was signed on 9 February between a Gulf state and US firm IronNet Cybersecurity, owned by
KAZAKHSTAN : Tokayev puts faith in Ermek Sagimbayev to restructure Kazakh intelligence
Since the January riots, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has taken several steps to try and weaken the influence of those
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan recruits US and Kazakh advisers in Stati legal battle
In a decision on 10 February, a New York Southern District federal judge ruled that US businessman Daniel Chapman's Argentem
UNITED STATES : Linkedin strengthens threat intelligence with former Facebook staff
Hired from the American company Meta (formerly Facebook) a few weeks ago, the cyber-investigator Luis Fernando is the latest to
ISRAEL/TURKEY : Mossad back in Ankara thanks to Israeli-Turkish rapprochement
With Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially due to visit Turkey in March, the channels of communication between the Israeli Mossad
CHINA/ISRAEL : Chinese businesswomen take on Israeli tech
Though CIA boss William Burns is concerned about growing ties in strategic sectors between China and Israel (IO, 15/09/21), the
SINGAPORE : Singapore's Coseinc disappearing from internet following US sanctions
Coseinc, the Singaporean cybersecurity company blacklisted by the American Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in November 2021 (IO, 08/11/21),
UNITED STATES : Bracket f, the new cyber gem of NSA senior TAO officials
On 15 February, US cybersecurity firm Redacted appointed Tim Kosiba to run its subsidiary bracket f. The choice of Kosiba, ex-division head of the NSA's Computer Network Operations (CNO), underli...
UAE/UNITED STATES/YEMEN : Pro-UAE Yemenis enlist services of adviser in Washington
The UAE-backed Yemeni independence movement, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), registered Ahmed Ali Atef as its envoy in Washington under
PAKISTAN : ISI worries about protecting Chinese investments in troubled Balochistan
Recently returned from a trip to China, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, who attended the Olymic Games as he tried
CHINA/INDIA : India joins battle against China's Tencent
The fight against Chinese apps continues in India, its ministry of electronics and information technology recently blocking the use of
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-MI6 chief Alex Younger sets up new Swiss firm with ousted Crédit Suisse chairman Urs Rohner
Sir Alex Younger, who headed Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) from 2014 to 2020, has made a number of public interventions in recent weeks, including one, notably, in the Financ...
CANADA/POLAND/TURKEY : Aselsan's new sensor ball fails to convince the foreign market
The new Turkish electro-optical ball, which has been installed on the country's drones since 6 February, is still struggling to
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Belarusian potash also at stake in Ukraine crisis
The Lithuanian MP and member of the parliamentary committee on security and national defence, Raimundas Lopata, summed up his views
FRANCE : Corexalys sets up partnerships with ADIT and Sopra-Steria
Cyber intelligence company Corexalys, which is headed by former ESL & Network executive Valéry-Emmanuel Gosserez and French defence ministry cyber intelligence specialist Christophe Bobin,
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Britain's UAE-focused PR firm Brunswick sets sights on Saudi Arabia
On 15 February, Canadian heritage specialist France Desmarais joined the Emirates office of the British PR firm Brunswick, an appointment
UAE : UAE's Digital14 reshuffles top line-up as it draws closer to EDGE Group
Over the past few months there have been a number of key managerial changes at Digital14, an Emirati firm that
CHINA : Western military drones sold online via China's YouUAV
As an Isreal court prepares to begin the trial of entrepreneur Ephraim Menashe and nine other individuals accused of selling
CHINA/RUSSIA : Russian oligarchs get cold shoulder in China
Although Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have both been at pains, particularly during the recent Winter Olympics, to show how strong the friendship is between Russia and China, some aspects of the ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Westminster wants own counterintelligence
A vacancy that expires on 3 March has revealed that Britain's Parliamentary Security Department is currently setting up a Security
UKRAINE : Avakov's resignation and Ukraine worries rekindle use of border guard intelligence
Volodymyr Zelensky's trip to Donetsk region on 17 February has shed a new light on the strategic nature of units
EUROPE : Belstone Dart's Somalian private security contract renewal upsets rivals
The European External Action Service has awarded one of the most lucrative European Union (EU) private security contracts, a $10.5m
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/GEORGIA/IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : Saudi GIP, Jeremy Wright, Hidalgo, Georgian National Security Council
Saudi Arabia/Iraq - The General Intelligence Presidency reopens talks with the Anbar tribes to try to block Iran. As Iraqi
CHINA/FRANCE : Softball report on France-China relations embarrasses parliament
The report was written by Bérengère Poletti of the opposition LR party and Buon Tan of the ruling LREM party,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/IRAQ : Potential Iraqi Rafale purchase publicised by Norman Ricklefs unlikely to fly
An article published by the US specialised site Defense News on 11 February, and quickly picked up by the French
FRANCE/MIDDLE EAST : YesWeHack partners with AmiViz to launch bug bounty platform in Dubai
The ethical hacking startup YesWeHack, which offers bug bounty services, announced on 7 February that it had teamed up with
ISRAEL/SYRIA : Israel walks a fine line on Ukraine to preserve its freedom to operate in Syria
Israel's diplomatic and security apparatus is no stranger to crises such as tensions in the Palestinian territoires, Hamas rockets and threats from Hezbollah but a more distant situation is keepi...
UNITED STATES : King & Spalding welcoming foreign state clients with Gina Haspel
An amendment to King & Spalding's declaration of foreign interests filed on 31 January before the US Department of Justice
ETHIOPIA/SOUTH SUDAN/UNITED KINGDOM : UK-funded Pinpoint develops Ethiopian peacekeepers' intel skills
From February to April, the British military training specialist Pinpoint Consulting Services will help the Ethiopian soldiers serving in the
EUROPE/FRANCE : Judicial appeals pile up against police EncroChat "digital infiltration"
The priority question of constitutionality (QPC) attacking the legal basis for the use of the evidence collected in the context
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Othrys, Ercom, Hart Security, Risk&Co
London - A TV producer at the helm of intelligence firm Othrys. Stock buyback, new management: the small intelligence firm
UNITED KINGDOM : Elbit targets Watchkeeper drones at Gulf market
Medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone producer UAV Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS) has been building up its contacts in Saudi Arabia and
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : RF interception specialist Kleos follows Satellogic into the Americas
In teaming up with geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) company Satellogic, a partnership announced on 9 February at the end of London's
UNITED STATES : Forced to share presidential cyber adviser role, Nakasone balances defensive and offensive
Turning to academia to attempt to resolve the ongoing issues in the cyber workforce that plague most technical intelligence agencies,
UNITED STATES : Charges against Big Pharma in Iraq fuelled by investigation led by former CIA executives
The legal action started by law firm Sparacino PLLC on behalf of a group of Iraq veterans is due to
UNITED KINGDOM : London searches for new security contractors to handle its operations in crisis zones
In March, Britain's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) will start sending out questionnaires for its new contractor selection round,
RUSSIA : Alongside the Ukraine crisis, the Elysée and the Kremlin keep up talks on military memorials
In the midst of the intense ongoing geopolitical negotiations over Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron had details of a highly symbolic memorial
IRAQ/IRAN/YEMEN : Pasdaran tries to engage Popular Mobilization Forces in Houthi rebellion
Alwiyat Al Waad Al Haq - or the "True Promise Brigades" - a little known Iraqi militia group, claimed responsibility
FRANCE/LEBANON : Franco-Lebanese and Emirati magnates battle for the right to operate Beirut's container terminal
On 7 February, two years later than planned, the port of Beirut's temporary management and operating committee, GEPB, which, despite
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Orbital Insight shields US GPS from interference
Worried about the mounting risk of manipulation and interference on the United States' navigation satellite system, the Department of Defense's
FRANCE : Blast off for Finance Ministry's space industry strategy relaunch
Seven French start-ups - Exotrail, Unseenlabs, Venture Orbital Systems, Share My Space, U-Space, Comat and SpaceDreamS - have been selected to launch a restructuring of the space sector on a nati...
UNITED KINGDOM : Stuart Page removed from target list in RAK-ENRC legal battle
At the end of January, the lawyers at the Stokoe Partnership defending Jordanian lawyer Karam al-Sadeq, who is being held prisoner in
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Distanced from gold miner Petropavlovsk, Hambros stay connected to Londongrad mining world
The announcement on 7 February that Everest Alliance Limited had withdrawn its complaint against the former management of the gold
UKRAINE : Ukrainian parliament beefs up legislative arsenal to respond to Russian and Belarusian moves
The Ukrainian parliament's national security, defence and inteligence committee completed its examination of several amendments to the law On the
QATAR/UNITED KINGDOM : Former Qatari prime minister HbJ loses London row with ex-SAS officer Tony Buckingham
At the end of January, the British High Court sentenced the former prime minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassem bin
BAHRAIN/ISRAEL : Bahrain draws on Israeli cyber tech
Just months after arriving in Tel Aviv, the new Bahraini ambassador Khaled Al Jalahma has already made himself familiar with
LEBANON : Riad Salamé affair ensnares European courts into Lebanese imbroglio
On top of a complaint in France (IO, 07/04/21), a probe in Switzerland (IO, 19/05/21) and another in Luxembourg, the former Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Riad Salamé (IO, 15/09/21) is now facin...
CHINA/UNITED STATES : New US Chinese monitor SinaCyber takes bow
Adam Kozy will be among a roster of cyberspecialists addressing a hearing of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission
UNITED KINGDOM : Peter Gummer tests market for a GPW buyer
News is beginning to get around the corporate intelligence world that one of the first companies in the sector, GPW,
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukraine's business community steps up pressure on France to align on Nord Stream 2 sanctions
Two days after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Kyiv on 8 February, the Ukraine France Forum, jointly organised by
KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA : Guided by the FSB, Nur-Sultan and Moscow forge closer links
During his visit to Moscow on 10 and 11 February, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was able to express his gratitude
EGYPT/TURKEY : Abbas Kamel and Hakan Fidan's talks stumble on Libya and Muslim Brotherhood
Leading secret rapprochement negotiations between Cairo and Ankara, intelligence chiefs Abbas Kamel, the director of Egypt's Mukhabarat Al Ama (IO,
FRANCE/INDONESIA : Steinberg Protocol helps French defence industry land contracts in Jakarta
Just before Indonesia finalised its order for six Rafales plus 36 optional aircraft from France on 10 February (IO, 23/11/21),
UNITED STATES : First In, the fund backed by US cyberdefence veterans
Shift5's series B round closed on 8 February (IO, 18/11/20), as the OT systems cybersecurity company headed by Joshua Lospinoso
ARGENTINA/CHINA : China using charm to get through to Argentine defence
During his visit to Beijing to attend the Winter Olympics, President Alberto Fernandez made Argentina's entry to the Belt & Road Initiative official with a Memorandum of Understanding signed on t...
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Karibzhanov tends to his...ess networks while his divorce kicks up a storm in Westminster
On 3 February, while Aidan Karibzhanov was supposed to chair the most recent meeting of MEDEF's Franco-Kazakhstan Business Council (Conseil
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA/TAJIKISTAN : Rosfinmonitoring, DNI v Cosco, Russian base in Tajikistan
Russia - Financial intelligence service teams with FSB on cryptocurrencies in Russia. Faced with the growth in cryptocurrency mining, the
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Ekaterina Kopylova serving as French journalists' Moscow contact
In the midst of the Russian-American standoff over Ukraine, journalists from all over Europe, but mainly France, have been crowding
ITALY : Italian spy chiefs ordered to observe three-year moratorium before switching to private sector
Published in the official journal of record of the Italian government on 7 February, a new decree, rushed through by
UNITED KINGDOM : X Cyber teams with ex-GCHQ Darktrace founders
According to our sources, Steve Huxter and Andrew France, the founders of British cybersecurity firm Darktrace, are poised to join
FRANCE : SGDSN preps for court battle with legal adviser to UN commission of inquiry for Mali
According to our sources, Franco-Israeli lawyer Ady Niv is poised to take his case for top secret clearance to France's Conseil d'Etat, after the Paris administrative appeals court rejected it la...
SAUDI ARABIA : "Otaku" businessman Essam al-Bukhary boosts Saudi-Japanese business relations
The talks which took place on 1 February between Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin
France/UAE : Manar Military Consultancy opens up Emirati market for French naval defence industry
According to our sources, Manar Military Consultancy is among the candidates currently being considered by the Tawazun arms purchasing authority
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : CR Investigations, Elliott, Raiole, ESL & Network
London: CR Investigations primed for 2022 with new Russia-facing recruits.CR Investigations (CRI), the boutique intelligence firm founded and run by
JAPAN/RUSSIA : Fresh debate over remains of former Soviet spy reignites Kuril Islands dispute
It was a minor remark made by the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov, that triggered a sparring match between
CHINA : Faithful right-hand man Zhao Leji to lead Xi Jinping's new anti-corruption drive
Xi Jinping's new anti-corruption drive, which was only made public in late January, is due to follow a precise programme,
KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA : Lukoil bosses make moves on Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea fields
At a meeting in Nur-Sultan on 2 February, Vagit Alekperov, the CEO of Lukoil, assured Kazakstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that
EUROPE : Coastal surveillance struggles to find solutions to wind power interference
The notice of non-award of a Danish market for coastal gap-filler radars published on 1 February is revealing of the
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-ENRC executive Abdumalik Mirakhmedov switches minerals extraction for bitcoin mining
Among the big business groups contributing to the new Kazakh post-riot public emergency fund Kazakhstan Khalkyna (IO, 03/02/22), cryptocurrency firm
FRANCE/SYRIA : Syria creeps into France's presidential election campaign
French president Emmanuel Macron, who has still not officially announced whether or not he will be a candidate in the
CANADA : Armoured vehicle specialist Inkas expands into interception
The recently created Aerospace and Defence division of Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Inkas, which will be present at the ISS
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Dataminr targets European armies
On 25 January, US company Dataminr posted new openings for several business development director roles in international defence. Founded in
EUROPE/ISRAEL : Israeli cyberintelligence firms make beeline for Brussels
According to our sources, the Israeli cyberintelligence firm Toka landed a contract with the Belgian police force in January. The company, chaired by retired general Yaron Rosen, the former cyber...
EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : Stamen Stantchev, fallen star broker of Romanian and Bulgarian privatisation deals
The High Court in London's 25 January ruling, dismissing claims from Crédit Suisse's former European emerging markets director Vadim Benyatov
EGYPT/UNITED STATES/LEBANON : Still no funding for strategic Beirut-Damas-Amman electricity deal
Signed with great pomp in Lebanon on 26 January - despite a power cut characteristic of the Beirut turmoil -
UNITED KINGDOM : Pioneer Michael Oatley still fighting fit with Timeoroi
One of the targets in the oil trader Arcadia Group's two-year legal battle across Europe against several former trader employees
SAUDI ARABIA/SYRIA : Moscow fails to reconcile Damascus and Riyadh
Syria's bid to restore diplomatic relations with its neighbours suffered a blow on 31 January when its readmission to the
AUSTRALIA : Intel 471 lands new contract in Australia with police
The US threat intelligence firm Intel 471 strengthened its position in Australia with a new contract with the federal police on
CHINA : Leo Group chief Wang Xiangrong, China's would-be Elon Musk, launches space activity
A Chinese white paper published on 28 January on President Xi Jingping's space objectives, principles and policies chimes perfectly with
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Russian banks ramp up lobbying efforts in US to avoid being on sanctions list
Consultant Leonardo Dosoretz agreed on 26 January to carry out lobbying work on US soil on behalf of Russian bank
EUROPE : Trial exposes Crédit Suisse's Eastern Europe private investigators
The trial that saw Vadim Benyatov sue his employer Crédit Suisse for £66m (€77m) for breach of duty of care during his employment in Romania between 2006 and 2015, a demand the High Court of ...
UNITED STATES : Technica Corp to update USCYBERCOM's APT hunter system
The US Air Force published a contract with the US firm Technica Corp to update its Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter (CVA/H)
EGYPT/YEMEN : Egypt sends troops to Yemen in hopes of protecting Suez Canal
According to our sources, at the end of January Abdel Fattah Al Sisi deployed ten military experts to Ataq, the
UNITED STATES/UZBEKISTAN : Washington gifts AeroVironment drones to Uzbekistan to keep tabs on Taliban
Light drone manufaturer AeroVironment (AV), a long-standing supplier to the Pentagon, landed a contract with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Yermak and Shurma take charge of Ukraine's dealings with the French military-industrial complex
Emmanuel Macron's speedy trip to Kyiv today looks like a change of direction on the part of the French president,
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA : TotalEnergies is potential thorn in side of French-US talks on Russia
Although Emmanuel Macron met with Vladimir Putin on Monday to attempt a new diplomatic approach, Paris seems ready to follow Washington's suit if it decides to impose economic sanctions on the Ru...
CHINA/FRANCE : Ex-Airbus China agent Gerard Houa off French taxman's hook
Former Airbus China agent Gérard Houa scored a legal victory on 2 February when the Paris court of appeal threw
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/RUSSIA/KYRGYZSTAN : SVR, DNI, GKNB, Corinte, Paris and Chinese Intelligence
Russia - Kremlin explores new foreign policy concept At a National Security Council meeting on 28 January, President Vladimir Putin
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Taiwan's TSMC cashes in on China-US microchip wars
The bi-partisan anti-China America Competes Act, which was introduced in the US Congress on 25 January, bodes well for Taiwan
FRANCE/TURKEY : Thales quietly teams with Turkish Defense industry on new spy ship
Turkey has made much of the Turkish defence companies Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM), Aselsan and Havelsan building the first Turkish
FRANCE/SYRIA : Christian charities at heart of France's careful policymaking on Syria
Though still reluctant to temper its position on Syria, France has not kept out of the country altogether. According to our sources, Paris is financing two projects in Syrian territory controlled...
CHINA/FRANCE : New group OFNRS promoting China's BRI in France tied to presidential hopeful Zemmour
An agreement between China and Egypt to promote ecological transport, the success of giant China Logistics and the free-trade agreement
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : David P. Benton, the Ukrainian defence ministry's "StratCom" supremo
After having followed Washington's line regarding the threat of a Russian invasion for nearly three months, with just a few
FRANCE/EUROPEAN UNION/UNITED KINGDOM : Wallbrook, ESL & Network, EUBAM
London - Wallbrook beefs up China team.British corporate intelligence firm Wallbrook (IO, 05/01/22) has hired China specialist Peter Richardson to
EUROPE : Armed security company rating agency expands its mandate
The webinar for security providers to states, organised by the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA), which went live on
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : USSOCOM accepts to put boots on ground in northeast Syria
Mazloum Abdi's Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were quick to take action after Islamic State militants raided the Sinaa prison near
FRANCE : The complex task of replacing DGSE head Bernard Emié
Although the government is currently giving priority to the upcoming general election, in the event that Emmanuel Macron wins a
CHINA : Controversial Olympic app MY2022 funded by Chinese tech fund BFHG
The Beijing Winter Olympics, which open this Friday with a ceremony directed by acclaimed director Zhang Yimou, will be marked
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : France and US hold talks against backdrop of tightened cyber regulation
The latest round of France-US talks about cyber, held virtually between 13 and 14 January, included talks about human rights
UNITED STATES/POLAND/UKRAINE : Warsaw and Pinchuk join forces in Washington
The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), a government think-tank headed by Russian-Polish relations specialist Slawomir Debski, has recently taken
ISRAEL/KAZAKHSTAN : Threatened in Nur Sultan, Kenges Rakichev has Israeli base to fall back on
Faced with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's promise to curb the power of post-Nursultan Nazarbayev Kazakhstan's oligarchs during a summons of the
UAE/FRANCE : France's Yogosha moves in as UAE readies to launch bug bounty platform
Just as it breaks into the UAE market, the French bug bounty start-up Yogosha announced on 25 January it had
FRANCE : GEOS looks to make mark in diplomatic security with Atlas
According to our sources, the French armed security firm GEOS has taken a majority stake in Atlas, the Malta-based private
EGYPT : Mahmoud Al-Sisi's standing within the Mukhabarat grows
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has placed the Israeli files of the Mukhabarat al-Amma, the Egyptian intelligence service, in the hands of
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Sistema heiress providing cyber solutions to the FBI
The latest trend for the sons and daughters of Russian oligarchs is to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) or cyber
INDONESIA/ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Ukraine's Infozahyst to assist Cognyte on Indonesian interceptions contract
Israeli cyber intelligence company Cognyte, a cyber-offensive spin-off of Israel's Verint group, has teamed up with Ukrainian interceptions company Infozahyst to supply an interception system to ...
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Vladimir Yakunin's heirs prosper in 'Londongrad'
Grumblings from the House of Commons over a rise in lawfare waged by oligarchs in London, have not yet disturbed
FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Donbas separatists work on building French support
Although the chance of it succeeding is slim, Russia's parliament, the State Duma, is currently examining a bill introduced by
ISRAEL : Wayout and Convexum step back from Israel's struggling NSO Group
The Internet of Object (IoT) firm Wayout Group and the anti drone player Convexum are looking to split from NSO
CHINA/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Christine Lee's spy network used pro-Xi Jinping tycoon Jonathan Choi's business connections
Since it alerted British MPs on 13 January to lawyer Christine Lee, who is accused of being a Chinese agent tasked with infiltrating British politics, the Security Service (MI5) has been tracking...
GERMANY/RUSSIA : Berlin Global Advisors's got Russian talent with Schauff
The arrival of Berlin Global Advisors' newest partner, Frank Schauff, is an indication that the business diplomacy firm founded by
CHINA/UNITED STATES : US Congress set to glean info on Chinese army's weaknesses
The new request for proposals from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) drew a barrage of criticism from
UAE/YEMEN : Ali Al Shamsi sent to Washington to draw up anti-Houthi axis
The Houthi attacks on Emirati soil of 17 and 24 January has prompted Abu Dhabi to get its defence response
POLAND : Poland hit by massive military inventory leak
The headline-grabbing cyberattack against Ukrainian government facilities on 13-14 January, while Russian troops were massed on the country's border (IO,
ALBANIA/UNITED STATES : Albania plays to NATO's tune by opting for American-style cybersecurity
On 11 January, the Albanian council of ministers signed a contract with Jones Group Europe to overhaul the country's cyber
CHINA/RUSSIA : Albert Avdolyan plays key role as Beijing thirsts for Siberian gas
Eager to secure sustainable supplies of gas, the Chinese state-owned company Zhejiang Energy Group is gradually trying to get its
UNITED KINGDOM : MPs slam UK lawyers and investigators who serve oligarchs
In a House of Commons debate on 17 January about the increased use of the British legal system by oligarchs
FRANCE/IRAQ : Kazimi's position as Iraqi PM - and French CAC 40 interests - hang in balance
While negotiations for the formation of a new Iraqi government are in full swing, France's economic ambitions - including those of ADP, Aéroports de Paris (IO, 10/02/21), to rebuild Mosul's war-...
CHINA/UNITED KINGDOM : Christine Lee affair thwarts Cowper-Coles' Asian focus
Business lawyer Christine Lee, who since mid-January MI5 has described as being an "agent" working for Beijing, appears to have
AZERBAIJAN/FRANCE/RUSSIA : Baku exasperated by 'influence operations' in Nagorno-Karabakh
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan was very cordial to the French presidency's advisor on continental Europe and Turkey, Isabelle Dumont,
PALESTINE/RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : CIS, UK counter state threats bill, Palestine-Algeria
Palestine-Algeria - Master spy Noureddine Mekri takes a stab at Palestinian reconciliationAlgerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has reportedly mandated his head
FRANCE : Construction conglomerates fight for pole position to build intel services' new HQs
These two budgets lines will shape the future of French intelligence for the next decade. Each with their own sizeable
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Cogent Strategies hired to aid Iraqi diplomacy in Washington
At a time when the US has announced the end of its combat mission in Iraq (IO, 22/12/21), forcing Baghdad
EUROPE/ITALY : Dataflow Security moves into the big league
Change is afoot for Dataflow Security (Dfsec), a small Italian-based company whose activities range from ethical hacking competitions to intelligence
CHINA/EUROPE : China's Qualland Institution fishing for intelligence in EU
Intelligence Online can reveal that a mysterious Chinese entity called the Qualland Institution began a recruitment campaign earlier this month to engage freelance European researchers working in...
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Risk&Co, Inter-Mediate, Thales
Paris - Le Floch's arrival helps Risk & Co further accentuate its shift towards cyber. The Anticip group's security arm,
SAUDI ARABIA : Riyadh counts on restored alliance with Islamabad to boost nuclear counter-espionage capacities
Not content with reinvigorating its alliance with Islamabad, as illustrated by the $4.2bn loan being granted to the Pakistani central
UKRAINE : Ivan Bakanov, sitcom producer turned spymaster
Exactly one year ago today, a bill to reform the national intelligence agency, the SBU, passed its first reading in
UZBEKISTAN : After protests in Nur-Sultan, Uzbek security services tighten grip
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone meeting with Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on 20 January to ensure order had
CHINA/EUROPE/ITALY : Cosco regains Italian foothold and gateway to Mediterranean thanks to German mediation
Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi is trying hard to resist China's moves on the country's economy but Zeno D'Agostino's comeback
UKRAINE : US cyber firm Qintel launches Ukrainian marketplace offensive
The US cybersecurity firm Qintel, a partner in Ukraine's Cyberspace Strategies In Action conference, which is due to take place
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES : Triple Canopy's phantom Ugandan legion comes back to haunt Constellis
A group of 20 former private guards from Uganda filed a lawsuit against the private security giant Constellis in Washington
RUSSIA : Yevtushenkov Jr has grand plans in AI for Sistema
Rumours are rife in the financial markets about the possible acquisition by holding company Sistema of the Russian Home Credit
BAHRAIN/ISRAEL : Bahrain reorganises intelligence services to work closer with Israel
Rachad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Omer Bar-Lev, the interior ministers of Bahrain and Israel, met on 14 January. The
UAE/FRANCE : Technip loses its case against its former agent in Abu Dhabi
Oil industry services group Technip France has lost the final round in its long legal battle with its former local agent in
AZERBAIJAN/ISRAEL/TURKEY : Israeli and Turkish cyber experts make beeline for Baku
A partnership between the London-based strategic investment firm Ikar Holding, headed by German Mario Diel, and the Azerbaijani investment consulting firm Blackgarden Advisory, announced on 14 Ja...
UAE : Emirati big data specialist expands European footprint
Quant Azymuth, a sponsor of the intelligence solution providers trade fair ISS World Europe to be held in Prague from
LEBANON : Beirut takes advantage of its oil deal with Baghdad to strengthen trade ties
Lebanese industry minister George Bushkian is spending a considerable time in Baghdad. He arrived in Iraq on 20 January to inaugurate the
UKRAINE : Ukraine parliament to vote on intelligence role for military commandos
Following the addition of some 1,000 soldiers under the "On the Foundations of the National Resistance" law, which came into
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Israeli Corporate Intelligence veteran Amit Forlit dragged into Ras al Khaimah battles
In the legal battle being fought by aviation executive Farhad Azima against former Dechert law firm partner and well-known private investigator Neil Gerrard, Amit Forlit now looks to have been be...
CYPRUS/KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : KPMG and Kroll forensic experts focus on Kazakh recycling
After years of heading in and out of the High Court of London, Maksat Arip and Baglan Zhunus finally put
SAUDI ARABIA/LEBANON : CyberArm flies flag for Lebanon in Saudi Arabian cyber
In line with efforts to beef up its cyber capacities, Saudi Arabia is investing in the sector abroad, particularly in
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : Russia Today still received loud and clear in US thanks to its local sub-contractors
The question of whether or not to allow the TV channels operated by RT - previously known as Russia Today -
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : 'Minor incursion' or not, US still leading light weapon deliveries to Kyiv
A few days before Americans were called to return home to the US, the sudden switch in President Joe Biden's
FRANCE/SAHEL : Amarante to monitor influence operations in the Sahel for French defence ministry
According to our sources, Amarante International, led by Alexandre Hollander, won in late December a contract with the French ministry
CHINA : Purple Mountain Laboratories' 6G success broadens PLA's cyber scope
The Chinese research centre Purple Mountain Laboratories became the centre of attention on 6 January with its announcement that it
CHINA/SYRIA : Asma Al Assad helps pave Damascus's way to China's silk road
Chinese ambassador to Syria Feng Biao started the year off with a bang. On 12 January, he finalised an agreement
UNITED STATES : With Mnuchin on board, Satellogic can look to Gulf
Liberty Strategic Capital (Liberty 77 Capital), founded by Steven Mnuchin, the former treasury secretary under Donald Trump, announced its investment
FRANCE/INDIA : Thales's offshore payments system exposed by court case brought by former agent in India
From London, which serves as base for all agents involved in the Indian defence sector, Sanjay Bhandari is closely following the case brought by the "commercial intermediary", as he refers to him...
FRANCE/INDIA : Non-proliferation intel keeps brakes on French-Indian nuclear cooperation
A little talked about but highly delicate issue could undermine France's nuclear ambitions in India. Although these ambitions are clear
RUSSIA : SVR, Tracfin, Romanian cyber, French prison intelligence
Russia - SVR awards artists' prize. SVR chief Sergey Naryshkin (IO, 22/10/21), awarded the Yevgeny Primakov prize to Russian artists
KAZAKHSTAN : Fall of Nazarbayev's sons-in-law prompts restructuring of Kazakhstan's oil sector
Following the protests in Kazakhstan and temporary exodus of the country's oligarchs (IO, 11/01/22), President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's administration has begun
FRANCE : ChapsVision takes up strong position in interceptions thanks to Elektron takeover
Announced on 20 January, the takeover of the French ministry of justice's long-standing interceptions contractor Elektron by big data analytics
CHINA : Xi neutralises powerful 'aerospace clique' one at a time
Ma Xingrui's appointment as Chinese Communist Party secertary in Xinjiang last month is the latest move by President Xi Jingping to coopt members of the 'aerospace clique', one of the last bastio...
EUROPE : European court probes business diplomacy firm Kic Systems' clients
In a decision issued 21 December, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rejected an appeal by Belgian
PALESTINE/SYRIA : Fatah keeps lead over Hamas in race for Damascus
Jibril Rajoub, the former head of Preventive Security in the West Bank and putative successor to Mahmoud Abbas (IO, 06/03/19)
RUSSIA : Kremlin takes back control of Dagestan's power grid with Iran in sight
Responding to the volley of instructions Vladimir Putin gave at his press conference on 23 December has kept the Kremlin
France/United Kingdom/United States : Erys, Hakluyt, Veracity, Amarante, KPMG
Paris: Nathalie Félines makes private security comeback with Erys.Nathalie Félines, chairperson of the French mine clearance company Geomines Nathalie Felines and
PAKISTAN : Islamabad tries to force Pakistani Talibans back to the border following truce breakdown
Galvanised by the return to power of their Afghan counterparts in Kabul and their growing popularity in their own centres
LEBANON/SYRIA : Spy chiefs Abbas Ibrahim and Tony Saliba at daggers drawn over relations with Syria
The Lebanese intelligence community, which is subject to the same upheavals as the Lebanese state generally, is not free of
EUROPE/ISRAEL : TAG, Israeli cyber firms' bridgehead in Italy
When he attended a conference in Italy at the beginning of January during his last foreign trip as head of
IRELAND/UNITED KINGDOM : Irish Data Protection Commission b...chnical investigation capacities with help from private sector
Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) signed a €2.5m framework contract with British forensics firm CCL (Solutions) Group, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte
TAJIKISTAN : Dushanbe aims to ensure that its allies do not forget Taliban threat
With the international attention received by Tajikistan from September (IO, 10/09/21) to November last year (IO, 19/11/21) following the return
IRAN : After Baghdad meetings, Riyadh and Tehran count on Amman's mediation
While the Iran nuclear negotiations continue in Vienna without any sign of a significant breakthrough, parallel talks took place much
IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : Genel Energy pushes through on inevitable rupture with Kurdistan Regional Government
The Jersey-registered oil firm with a base in Turkey, Genel Energy, has had rough start to the year. On 4
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Former UK cyber security chief Ciaran Martin to help Britain break into Japanese market
Advising the Cyber London Accelerator (CyLon), McKinsey and US sovereign technology investor Paladin Capital Group (IO, 12/11/21) was not enough
AUSTRIA/EGYPT/UAE : Erik Prince's shadow hovers over Egypt's secret spy plane project
The Egyptian interior ministry is looking to set up an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform to provide security for pipelines in the sensitive Sinai region, where Islamic ...
FRANCE/MONACO/UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-Monaco prime minister Serge Telle goes into business
The former French diplomat with long ties to Monaco, Serge Telle, has been busy drumming up business in London. Telle,
CHINA/INDIA/MYANMAR : India aims to outdo China in Myanmar
The New Delhi authorities have rushed at the chance to fulfil the Burmese junta's request to upgrade its arms. The
SYRIA/TURKEY : Turkish AKP ally Khalil Ibrahim controls electricity supplies to northern Syria
Popular protests over the rising cost of electricity in northern Syrian towns such as Mare, Azaz and Soran (IO, 08/10/21)
FRANCE : French cyber partners Roussely and Taleb continue to grow their empire
At a time when there are a number of major big data projects in French intelligence, including development of the
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : Avisa Partners watches over Kazakhstan's interests in France
The popular uprising in Kazakhstan, which was centred in Almaty, caused some concern at Paris firm Avisa Partners (IO, 28/05/20). According to
CHINA/RUSSIA : Oligarchs close to the Kremlin look towards Beijing
The China Business Forum, to be held in Moscow from 8 to 9 February, will bring together a panel of Russian and Chinese executives eager to take advantage of the strong business ties between both...
FRANCE/EUROPEAN UNION : Crypto giant Binance weaves web of networks to bounce back in Paris and Europe
Crypto currency exchange Binance, which is currently hiring investigators based in Paris, is banking on a number of new allies
UKRAINE : Ukraine's anti-corruption prosecution office still without chief, much to Western chagrin
Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) remains leaderless, a year-and-a-half after the departure of Nazar Kholodnystkyi. Also vice-president of the
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : US interception specialist Almenta still has strong grip on Asian market
According to our sources, the French distributor of cyber intelligence technology Tactis Smart Solutions (TSS) is preparing to file for
FRANCE/GREECE : Tassos Rozolis bigs up foreign defence industry in Greece
On 14 January, the French Minister of Defence Florence Parly received her Greek counterpart Nikólaos Panayotópoulos at Naval Group's facilities
UNITED STATES/KAZAKHSTAN : NED keeps Washington informed on Kazakh intel networks
The arrest of ex-security chief Karim Massimov on 8 January caused a stir back in the United States. The US
UAE : Al Muhairi's dreams of cyber empire with KBBO come crashing down
A little-noticed ruling issued by the Paris Court of Appeal on 8 December that puts an end to a case for failure to execute an initial judgement has provided insight into the state of affairs of ...
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : DGSE, Kazakhstan's KGB
Paris: the DGSE adopts a TREXAt the end of 2021, French data privacy watchdog Commission nationale de l'informatique et des
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Consultants appointed to boost Arizona-sponsored American University of Kyiv
Although it has yet to receive its licence from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, the American University of Kyiv (AUK)
UNITED KINGDOM : UK made to tighten interception overwatch by European justice despite Brexit
As indicated in its 2020 annual report published 6 January, the European Court of Human Rights' Big Brother Watch v.
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Under pressure from Moscow, Lukashenko closes ranks around his new constitutional project
With just a few weeks to go to the referendum to consult the Belarusan population on the constitutional reforms he
SAUDI ARABIA/EGYPT/FRANCE : LODI loses battle for damages over Riyadh and Cairo ODAS defence contracts
A two-year dispute between LODI Consulting and the French military exports organisation ODAS concluded when the Versailles court of appeals
EUROPE/FRANCE : Italian cyber specialists pile into French market
According to our sources, the Italian lawful interception company Area, owned by Andrea Franco Formenti, is keen to establish a
UNITED STATES : New NGA chief steps in after major overhaul
Frank Whitworth was appointed head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) on 10 January, taking the helm of an entity that has undergone some major transformations in the past two y...
FRANCE/RUSSIA : French senate concerned about its potential NATO candidate's Russian friends
The US Democrat representative of Virginia, Gerald Connolly, will be stepping down as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO
UAE/UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : 17 Arm, Felton, ADIT, ENRC
Washington: ENRC on the move in the US.Far from the tumult in Nursultan, the Luxembourg holding company that owns the
UKRAINE : SBU contract winner Altair-775 also partner of major Western cyber companies in Kyiv
The interceptions firm Altair-775 was awarded a new contract at the end of December from Ukraine's internal intelligence service, the SBU,
CHINA/RUSSIA : Russian soft power ups ambitions in Central Asia for 2022
After a busy year restructuring its soft power agencies and associations (IO, 11/10/21), spearheaded by the Rossotrudnichestvo (IO, 07/04/21), Russia would like to reinvest certain regions that m...
CYPRUS/UNITED STATES/GREECE/TURKEY : US defence groups conduct Greek sales offensive in Washington as well as Athens
On 27 December, just after a US announcement in mid-December that created confusion over a frigates contract awarded by the
UAE/YEMEN : Houthi militia take aim at UAE presence in Socotra
The boarding of the Emirati-flagged ship Rawabi on 3 January off the coast of Al Hudaydah, which fell into Houthi
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Crimea-renewed focus of Ukraine-Russia tensions
A few words from Volodymyr Zelensky's New Year's message mentioning photographs of Ukrainian soldiers that could potentially be taken in
LEBANON : IMF needs to see real progress on Alvarez & Marsal's Beirut forensic audit
Lebanon is to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 15 January but a foreseeable persistent impasse could hold
RUSSIA : Putin enlists Fradkov Jr to boost Russian defence industry
In line with its wish to protect sovereign industries such as its space programme (IO, 14/10/21) and medical research (IO,
UNITED KINGDOM : NSO affair threatens UK's cyber sales strategy in Gulf
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) strategists in the Gulf are under pressure to respond to a letter sent
ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Ukraine's domestic intelligence drops Rayzone and Ultra
On 31 December, Ukraine's domestic intelligence department, the SBU, ended its contract with the local reseller Inside Solutions for the delivery of open source intelligence (OSINT) systems devel...
RUSSIA : Alexander Vedyakhin, Sberbank's lead on artificial intelligence
The launch in the coming weeks of an alliance of 28 companies under Sberbank's leadership should enable Alexander Vedyakhin, the
FRANCE : French prisons to get anti-drone systems
Unsurprisingly, the result of the call for tender for the equipment of French prisons with anti-drone systems (IO, 31/05/21), which
JORDAN : Abdullah II wants to lock in Hashemite institutions via new national security council
Still burned by the events that shook his court in 2021 (IO, 07/04/21), King Abdullah II rang the New Year
FRANCE : Elysée Palace weighs in to solve French intel staffing woes
According to our sources, Laurent Nunez, France's National Coordinator for Intelligence and the Fight Against Terrorism (CNRLT) is poised to
CENTRAL ASIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Turkish ex-diplomat Mehmet Ogutçu opens Central Asian doors for Western oil companies
Turkish ex-diplomat turned consultant Mehmet Ogutçu has been paying particular attention to the recent chaos in Kazakhstan. Head of the
UNITED KINGDOM : US due diligence firm Exiger to monitor foreign investment for Boris Johnson
Pocketing two out of five sublots for a total of £3.4m (€4.1m) at the end of last year, Exiger Diligence's London branch has taken the lion's share of a framework contract awarded by the Depar...
FRANCE/RUSSIA : François Fillon rubs shoulders with counter-espionage veterans in Moscow
Former French prime minister François Fillon, who became an independent director of petrochemicals group SIBUR (IO, 05/10/21) on 17 December,
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN/SWITZERLAND : Kazakh oligarchs fly off on holiday to escape the protests
The scale and suddenness of the ongoing protests in several Kazakh regions has led the country's oligarchs to flee abroad
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : USSOCOM to face Assad forces on the Iraq-Syria border
On 6 January, the Til Koçer border crossing between Syria and Iraq, which had been closed for several years, finally
GERMANY : Germany launches new foreign intelligence watchdog, UKr
The newly established Independent Oversight Board (Unabhangiger Kontrollrat - UKr) has been overseeing the work of the BND, Germany's foreign
CHINA/IRAQ : Chen Xianzhong spearheads Chinese push into Baghdad
China, the world's largest importer of Iraqi oil, has been very open about its energy ambitions in Iraq (IO, 08/09/21),
UNITED KINGDOM : Airbus to install new ciphering system for British Foreign Office
Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) is to install a new communications ciphering system for the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
SAUDI ARABIA/UAE/FRANCE : Macron dishes out Legions of Honour in the Gulf
The latest cohort of Legion of Honour recipients signed by Emmanuel Macron on 31 December included the quiet but influential lawyer and businessman Mohamed bin Laden. President of the Saudi-Frenc...
SAUDI ARABIA/SOUTH KOREA : Seoul uses influential agents to break into defence
Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) was one of the first, along with China's Norinco, to confirm its participation in the
FRANCE : French presidency's intelligence coordinator given authority over ministries
Laurent Nunez, France's National Coordinator for Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism, felt reassured when he was questioned by National Assembly members carrying out an inquiry into national resil...
UKRAINE : Kyiv seeks to align its forces in information warfare
Thrown headlong into its fight against Russian narratives, which it was able from 4 to 6 January to put to
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : NGA contributes to Western influence counter-offensive against Wagner in Africa with Tearline
At the end of December 2021, the French executive decided to fight back against the Russian private military group Wagner's
FRANCE : Axis kickstarts the New Year with major reform
The small world of French corporate intelligence noted that New Year's greetings from Axis & Co, the corporate intelligence company
IRAN/YEMEN : Iran appoints top military official Abdul Reza Shahlai following ambassador's death
Tehran was quick to act following the death last month of Hassan Erlou, the Iranian ambassador to Yemen who played
SYRIA : Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view
National Security Bureau (NSB) chief Ali Mamlouk, who was once unchallenged as Syria's spy chief, seems to have dropped off the radar in recent months. His wide-ranging area of responsibility onc...
NORTH AMERICA/FRANCE : Private sector operators take up position in greenhouse gas satellite surveillance
French company Kayrros, which picked up a World Petroleum Council excellence award in the small to medium-sized company category last
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ISRAEL : Wi-Fi protocol evolution is turning agencies away from dedicated interception systems
At a time when Western countries are developing their 5G networks, intelligence services are increasingly concerned about the impact of the new technology on their interception capacities, with W...
UKRAINE : Oligarch Rinat Akhmetov ponders whom to back against Ukraine's Zelensky
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky set the tone in his New Year's message on 31 December, stating that the country's oligarchs
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : ESG investigations - mirage or growth opportunity for investigation firms?
In recent months, few investigations companies have not added a new tab on their websites or taken on an expert in social and environmental governance (ESG). After the investigations branches of ...
EGYPT/JORDAN/LEBANON/SYRIA : Arab Gas Pipeline deal to supply Lebanon still faces obstacles
The first deliveries of gas to Lebanon through the Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP) are awaited imminently in accordance with a plan announced in August by the US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea (IO, 0...
UZBEKISTAN : Artikkhojaev: mayor of Tashkent, construction magnate and fixer for Western business
The Uzbeck capital is currently undergoing huge renovations, and calls for tender for these large-scale works are pouring in. The
FRANCE : Macron gets intelligence services battle ready to protect elections from potential foreign interference
With France's presidential elections just four months away, the threat that fresh Macron Leaks might upset the campaign is ever-present
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv and Moscow weaponise citizenship in battle for influence
A few words to ambassadors in Kyiv shortly before the end of the year highlighted one of Volodymyr Zelensky's new battle horses: the diaspora. The Ukrainian president spoke of a "soft force" that...
FRANCE/MONACO/RUSSIA : Monaco's Russian community thriving a decade into Rybolovlev's club leadership
It was clear from the celebrations for Dmitry Rybolovlev's 10th anniversary as president of AS Monaco on 23 December, that the Russian businessman has won over the football club's supporters, who...
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/ISRAEL : How OSINT has worked its way among cyber-intelligence experts
Israeli open-source intelligence (OSINT) company Cobwebs Technologies will be the lead sponsor at Dubai'sISS World Middle EastConferencefrom 28 February to 2 March, indicating the growing importa...
KAZAKHSTAN : Ex-president Nazarbayev's grandson Aliyev Junior forges stature as future magnate
In the build-up to the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence, celebrated with great fanfare on 16 December, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
UNITED STATES : Stone Point at the heart of Kroll versus Kroll legal battle
Before asking a New York Southern District court to dismiss a complaint filed against it by competitor Kroll for infringement of the Kroll trademark on 20 December, Jules and Jeremy Kroll's busin...
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : The advisers helping turn MbS into a cinema mogul
After a busy start to the month of December, Saudi businessman Mohammed al-Turki landed in Paris on December 20 to take a few days off. He doubtless needed them. The dapper al-Turki, who serves a...
GERMANY : Olaf Scholz sets intelligence overhaul in motion
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's team is keen to waste no time before making their mark on the country's security architecture,
IRAQ/SYRIA : Syrian and Iraqi spymasters share challenge of cross-border insecurity
Fatigued by years of crisis after crisis, the governments of Syria and Iraq (IO, 24/08/21) now see the strengthening of their bilateral economic cooperation as the main path forward. This was aga...
NORTH AMERICA/EUROPE : Raedas, FTI, Montrose, Casale, 5 Stones
London - Raedas passes the Covid test. According to the accounts it published at the end of November, business intelligence
IRAN/RUSSIA : Iranian cyberspecialist Cysec selling its technology from Kazan to Tehran
In the middle of a cyber attack with Israel - an attack campaign using the Log4j vulnerability against Israeli targets
YEMEN : AQAP finds fresh strength under the leadership of Khaled Bartafi
According to our sources, Khaled Bartafi, who has been head of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP, IO, 06/10/21) since
UAE/RUSSIA : Mubadala heads further into Moscow market without RDIF
By announcing on 10 December that it was taking a 1.9% stake in the petrochemical group Sibur - mainly owned
MONGOLIA/RUSSIA : Moscow makes play to maintain its Mongolian leverage
On 16 December, the new Mongolian president Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh visited Moscow, his first foreign trip since he was elected in June. This visit falls against a backdrop of irritation on the par...
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Hillmont Partners brings Quintel closer to Kyiv's oligarchs
True to its customary discretion, London-based business intelligence firm Quintel Intelligence has recently taken on an adviser who is particularly
AFGHANISTAN/SAUDI ARABIA/PAKISTAN : Riyadh renews contact with Taliban via Pakistani intelligence
Khaled bin Ali Al Huamaidan, the director of Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), paid a visit to Rawalpindi on 8
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Bulgarian-Cypriot firm Rotsas helps Bell land Bosnian helicopter deal
Bell Textron has finally seen its $38.5m deal to deliver the Bosnian army with four of its Huey-II helicopters touched down
FRANCE : DGSI looks to get ahead with predictive algorithms
The French internal intelligence service, the DGSI, is currently looking for artificial intelligence engineers to take part in a predictive
EGYPT/UNITED STATES : Canadian DPI firm Sandvine symbolises US double standards on spyware exports
The letter published on 15 December by a group of US lawmakers, including House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, is unnerving the global village of te...
TAJIKISTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Goliath Advisory sees itself as London hub for Central Asian investors
In choosing one of his seven daughters, Rukhshona Emomali, to replace the current ambassador to the UK Masoud Khalifazoda on
UNITED STATES/IRAQ : Iraqi intelligence anxious as US pursues its military operations in Baghdad
In an intelligence note written on 12 December by Iraq's intelligence ministry and seen by Intelligence Online, the country's spymasters
RUSSIA : Gazprom's networks struggle to expand gas route in southern Europe
There was more at stake than securing a fixed gas supply price for 2022 when the Greek environment and energy
EUROPE : Italian Air Force renews lease of L3Harris spy planes
According to our sources, the Italian Ministry of Defence has renewed its contract with the US defence group L3Harris Technologies
UNITED KINGDOM : West Sands founders take on new roles - one goes solo and one to Sibylline
Just a few months after she joined business intelligence firm Veracity Worldwide (IO, 30/07/21), Tamara Makarenko has reclaimed her freedom to operate
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : W1, new Washington outfit of David Tinsley, American 'fixer' of the SFO
In her 10 December statement for the opening of a review into a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation of a vast corruption case in the Middle East involving UnaOil and resulting in several con...
RUSSIA : Former FSB officer Anatoly Seryshev puts Siberia at centre of Russian strategic council's agenda
Vladimir Putin carried out a partial reshuffle of Russia's national council for strategic development and national projects on 13 December,
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : Congress struggles to clarify US approach to Syria
The Biden administration has struggled to chart a clear course on Syria (IO, 31/05/21) and the latest National Defense Authorization
Europe : Cy4gate picks up speed in race to become interceptions leader in Italy and beyond
The preliminary agreement announced on 16 December between Italian cyber-intelligence firm Cy4gate and the Aurora conglomerate, which owns legal interception
AFGHANISTAN/EUROPE/FRANCE : TM4 provides key to Afghan security contracts under Taliban
Western private security companies, whose services are much in need in Afghanistan by international donors, are anxious to find a
UAE/QATAR/TURKEY : Aselsan sparks fierce competition between Abu Dhabi and Doha
Haluk Gorgun, chairman of Turkey's majority state-owned defence corporation and electronic warfare equipment specialist Aselsan, and his team were in Doha again in early December. In addition to ...
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Paris pays the price for Kyiv's ruthlessness towards Arsen Avakov
According to our sources, French President Emmanuel Macron has finally ruled out the idea of visiting Kyiv before the end
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/TURKEY : Alexander Machkevich, the financier diplomat helping Turkey reconcile with Israel
Rumours are rife around Turkey's reported decision to reappoint an ambassador to Tel Aviv after a three-year hiatus and the
UKRAINE : New defence minister Oleksii Reznikov makes his mark on armed forces
Despite the current tensions with Moscow (IO, 29/11/21), the military industry in Ukraine is booming: from modernising its army (IO,
FRANCE : Tracfin's next director to start with a full plate of challenges
Until President Emmanuel Macron, now in campaign mode, picks a replacement, France's financial intelligence service Tracfin is being run by
KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA : Novachuk and Kim, the Kazakh duo set to become masters of the Russian Arctic mines
As proof of the rise in power of Kazakh businessman Oleg Novachuk, the latter had a long one-on-one meeting with
ISRAEL/MEXICO : Ex-NSO founders Omri Lavie and Isaac Zack try their luck again in Latin America with Nekt Group
The call by US lawmakers on 15 December to renew sanctions on Israeli cyber firms NSO Group and Candiru has
UNITED KINGDOM : Intelligence and Security Committee still fighting for oversight of Investment Security Unit
It is clear from the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC)'s annual report published on 10 December that the parliamentary unit led by Conservative MP Julian Lewis is fed up. Although the ISC...
KAZAKHSTAN : City crypto traders skeptical about Kazakh opportunities
As part of Kazakhstan's efforts to find buyers for several hundred state-owned companies, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met a panel of
IRAQ : Lahur Talabani rouses his troops as he continues to battle with his cousin for leadership of the PUK
Determined to hold on to his Sulaymaniya power base, Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani had no qualms about parading publicly in the
RUSSIA : Gazprom Media boss Alexander Zharov's growing influence over Russia's social networks
Gazprom's acquisition - via the insurer Sogaz (IO, 19/12/18) - of a majority stake in MF Technologies, the company that
SAUDI ARABIA : Israel's cyber industry quietly prospects in Riyadh
The @Hack cybersecurity conference in Riyadh on 28-30 November marked Saudi Arabia's ongoing bid to be more influential in Gulf
IRAN : IRISL plays crucial role in Damas-Tehran economic rapprochement
On a visit to Tehran on 6 December, the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Faisal al-Moqdad (IO, 14/12/21) reaffirmed, alongside Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi, the strategic ...
SAUDI ARABIA : US intelligence provides Saudi Arabia with targeting support in Yemen
According to our sources, strikes by the Saudi Air Force on the Al Dailami air base close to Saana Airport
AZERBAIJAN/FRANCE : TotalEnergies reminds Baku of its interest in the Caspian Sea
After he learned that Azerbaijan had signed a new gas swap agreement with its Caspian Sea neighbours, Turkmenistan and Iran,
EUROPE/UKRAINE : Armenian-US entrepreneur Ashot Hovanesian helps EU weigh in on Ukraine's anti-corruption drive
Denmark's foreign ministry published a notice on 23 November to say it had asked the US company Synergy International Systems
Europe/Ukraine/United States : EU and US add muscle to still headless Ukrainian cyber defence
Despite backing from the West, the Kyiv government is still struggling to organise the leadership for the "cyber troops" it created in late August (IO, 03/09/21). The shape of this future command...
UNITED KINGDOM : BAE Systems helps UK attribute foreign information warfare
As is indicated in a contract published on 6 December, British defence group BAE Systems is to help the Defence
FRANCE : Security stalwart SSF looks to boost its business intelligence practice
After a difficult period during the Covid-19 crisis, leading private security firm Scutum Security First (SSF), part of the Scutum group, has
AUSTRALIA/FRANCE : Australian lobbying firm Dragoman visits Paris after derailed Naval Group submarine deal
According to our sources, the bosses of Australia's Dragoman were in Paris last week for meetings with its client Naval
RUSSIA/CHINA : State media moguls press for closer Chinese-Russian cooperation in information war
Shen Haixiong, who is among other things head of state-controlled China Media Group (also known as Voice of China) is developing increasingly close
UNITED STATES/INDIA/ISRAEL : Israeli-US battle underway for New Delhi drone contract
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is going all out to derail a deal that has been in final negotiations in recent
EUROPE : Slinf, a new firm of German SIGINT veterans, takes a bow at ISS
Young Swiss threat intelligence company Slinf presented its new cyber attack early detection technology when it took part in the
RUSSIA : Ex-SVR agent Yevgeny Fokin still covering for Oleg Deripaska in US
EN+'s chairman Gregory Barker, Lord Barker of Battle and former Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, has the aluminium group's selection for the United Nations Energy Compacts initiat...
UNITED KINGDOM : Adrian Leppard's business interests flourish as Black Cube's picks up too
The 6 December dismissal by the California court of the conspiracy claim brought by actress Rose McGowan against Harvey Weinstein,
UAE/IRAN : Abu Dhabi puts aside inter-Emirati differences for rapprochement with Tehran
In the wake of a series of regional reconciliations with Israel, Qatar (IO, 16/12/20), Syria and Turkey (IO, 07/12/21), there has
UNITED STATES : Buikema-Miller, the journalist turned CIA press secretary
The CIA's new press secretary Susan Buikema-Miller had until now been working for the public affairs department of the Office
SYRIA : Brussels sanctions Cham Wings Airlines
Syria's Cham Wings Airlines has opened a number of new routes in recent times and is even hoping to offer
INDIA/RUSSIA : Sechin triggers openings for Rosneft on Putin's trip to India
Vladimir Putin's trip to India - his first abroad since the beginning of the pandemic minus a quick stopover in Geneva to meet Joe Biden in June - proved to be greatly beneficial to Rosneft boss ...
ISRAEL : Tough cyber talks underway between Tel Aviv and Washington
Israeli defence officials were recently dispatched to Washington in a bid to discuss the NSO affair directly with the White
UNITED STATES : White House's grand anti-corruption policy is boon to corporate intelligence firms
Launched on 6 December, the White House's grand anti-corruption strategy is under particular scrutiny by the business intelligence sector. The
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Russian soft power chief Yevgeni Primakov Jr visits Paris to boost Franco-Russian relations
Despite the burial ceremony for Napoleonic general Charles Etienne Gudin at the Invalides in Paris on 2 December, Franco-Russian relations
FRANCE : Viginum and DGSI consider partnering with defence-backed startups to fight fake news
French start-up Sahar presented its anti-fake news software to the French Ministry of the Interior on 25 November, according to
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Lockheed Martin's lobbying brings F-35s to land in Helsinki
The announcement on 6 December that Finland would be acquiring F-35 fighter jets as part of its €10bn HX programme
EUROPE : Cysec, backed by Indian ex-hacker Rajat Khare, makes mark in European satellite cyber security
The Swiss cybersecurity firm Cysec has taken another step into European cyber security with the announcement on 7 December of
GERMANY : Hitschler central in new German Chancellor Scholz's military-security policy
Despite her relative inexperience, since coming to office earlier this month, Germany's new defence minister Christine Lambrecht, of the SPD party, has wasted no time in launching a review of the...
UNITED STATES : Former FBI bigwig bolsters Arcturus' security platform
The Massachusetts developer of a platform for processing secure data useful to companies active in weak states, Arcturus Intelligence, has
IRAN : Pasdaran continue to build up their cyber warfare capacity
Aware that it needs to tackle its rivals in the virtual world, particularly since being targeted by the Stuxnet computer
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Nord Gold's arbitration against Paris in Montagne d'or case sends arbitrators abuzz
According to several sources, France's ministry of the economy headed by Bruno Le Maire recently contacted law firm Gide Loyrette
UNITED STATES : American integrator ATSC to reorganise Georgia's border surveillance system
US company Advanced Technology Systems Co (ATSC) has been awarded a $12,524,884 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for the integration of
RUSSIA : EU blocks Sergey Shilov-led Skol Airline's regional expansion plans
On 25 November, the European Commission clipped the wings of small Russian air transport operator Skol Airline. The company, headed by Russian businessman Serguey Shilov, had plans to open new ai...
FRANCE/TURKEY : French small businesses court Turkish drone industry
With the Turkish-Emirati reconciliation sealed by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's trip to Ankara on 24
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Russia makes a fresh attempt to get France to help it develop its AI research capacity
As it looks to catch up with and, if possible, overtake its competitors in the artificial intelligence (AI) field, Moscow
GEORGIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv takes steps to bring back jailed Mikheil Saakashvili
Recently transferred to the Gori military hospital in Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili appeared in court on 29 November and 2 december
IRAQ : Qassem Al Araji treads carefully with results of probe into PM Kadhimi's attempted assassination
In a press conference on 29 November, Iraq's national security chief Qassem Al Araji published the results of a probe
RUSSIA/TURKMENISTAN : Lukoil relaunches Caspian ambitions after president's son appointed to head oil sector
Just before attending the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on 25 November, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, the son of Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow,
FRANCE : Private investigator Cristal Group swoops in to take French cyberspecialist Celteam mid-deal
The French private investigation company Cristal Group's acquisition of fellow French cyber specialist Celteam, made official in early November, played
SAUDI ARABIA : Hoshan joins dots between Huawei and Mohammed bin Salman's AI sector
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MbS) highly favoured Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has entered an array of partnerships with the kingdom's public enti...
UNITED STATES/LEBANON : How CT Group is helping Bahaa Hariri's anti-Hezbollah drive in Washington
Having unofficially launched a campaign for office in Lebanon, where last month his group Sawa li Lubnan ("Together for Lebanon")
FRANCE : Possible sale of majority stake in ADIT whets appetites
With Parquest Capital, the main shareholder in French corporate intelligence group ADIT, set to sell off its stake next year, according
BELARUS/LITHUANIA/UNITED STATES : NATO outpost Vilnius chagrined over loss of its Belarusan potash business
Although the sanctions decided by the United States at the end of June in coordination with the European Union and
EUROPE/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakhstan's green energy opportunities lure major European groups
As well a engaging in a string of worthwhile political talks, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used his time in Brussels
EUROPE/ISRAEL : Israeli cyber industry sets up shop in Vilnius
Rytis Rainys, the head of Lithuania's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), profited from his attendance at Innotech, the Israeli internal
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN : Chase for fallen Ablyazov clan's assets takes Kazakhstan to Courchevel
In mid-November, the lawyers of Greenberg Taurig's BTA Bank filed a discovery application with the court of the Southern District of New York to ask a list of banks to provide all the information...
UKRAINE/RUSSIA : Kyiv reviews its troops after alert over supposed Moscow and Akhmetov-backed coup
After having warned at a press lunch broadcast live on 26 November that the country faced the threat of a
SYRIA : Before EUCJ, Samer Foz's colossal investments in Marota City exposed
The European Union Court of Justice (EUCJ) rejected an appeal to lift sanctions against Syrian businessman Samer Foz (see our
UAE/INDIA : UAE cybersecurity firm Digital14 sets up shop in hackers-for-hire capital New Delhi
In an indication of the growing cybersecurity ties between the UAE and India, the UAE's cybersecurity chief Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti
UNITED KINGDOM : Frazer-Nash Consultancy, US accelerator of British cyberdefence ambitions
Defence engineering firm Frazer-Nash Consultancy is currently working until March 2022 on a £1m Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
UAE/TURKEY : Baykar drones at heart of Turkish-Emirati reconciliation
When in Ankara on 24 November for what was his first visit in nearly a decade, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) came to seal the normalisation of relations between the tw...
UNITED KINGDOM : UK business diplomacy firm D Group takes strong interest in national security
Once pluridisciplinary, the low-profile business diplomacy firm D Group has recently become much more focused on intelligence and national security.
FRANCE : French intelligence and army ponder spy plane hire from CAE
Several French air force representatives have, as we understand, paid two visits to the Luxembourg-based firm CAE Aviation, led by
SYRIA : Spymaster Hussam Luka given mission to conquer eastern Syria
Syrian general intelligence chief Hussam Luka was barely back from representing Syria at the Arab Intelligence Forum in Cairo last
EUROPE/UKRAINE : Kyiv counts on Airbus to foil Kolomoisky's Boeing fleet
On 25 November, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation of a new national airline, Ukrainian National Airlines
FRANCE : French Senate finds DGSE's 2022 budget a tricky fit
A report handed by French senators Pascal Allizard and Yannick Vaugrenard on 24 November highlights a slight budgetary tightening for France's external intelligence service, the DGSE, in 2022 - f...
RUSSIA : EU serves Moscow its terms for Russia's 'tax havens'
The Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov and his deputy Alexei Sazanov's recent flurry of activity has brought back to the
PAKISTAN : Afghan Taliban mediate between their Pakistani counterparts and the government in Islamabad
On 9 November, the new rulers of Kabul succeeded in getting their Pakistani counterparts, the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) (IO, 18/10/21), to agree
QATAR/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Doha-Washington honeymoon help...1 Security land football World Cup 2022 counter-drone contract
According to our sources, Texan firm 911 Security Cameras, a video monitoring firm that also markets anti-drone solutions under the
GERMANY/AFRICA : Interceptions specialist Vastech seeks new pastures through German connections
As it continues to integrate satellite communications intelligence systems for the Saudi Arabia ministry of defence, South African interceptions specialist
SAUDI ARABIA : The ups and downs of Saudi spyplane operator GDC Middle East
General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali's visit of GDC Middle East's booth - just next to Lockheed Martin's one - at the Dubai Air Show in mid-Novem...
FRANCE : French army special forces chiefs race for key intelligence posts
The land army units of France's Special Operations Command (COS) are already showing an interest in intelligence service posts which
UAE : QinetiQ offshoot Houbara helps UAE develop defence R&D capacity
British-Emirati joint venture Houbara Defence and Security, which was set up in 2017 via a partnership between QinetiQ (IO, 20/09/21) and Middle East
ISRAEL : After setbacks, Candiru makes timid public entrance
Israel's cyber intelligence company Candiru will present on zero-click stealth intrusion technique, which does not require interaction with the target,
AFGHANISTAN : Amarante goes back to Kabul to protect European diplomats
Since 22 November European diplomats have gradually been returning to Afghanistan, following the EU's pullout in August. Amarante International (IO,
UAE : G42 puts stamp on UAE's geospatial intelligence ambitions
Group 42 (G42) and the US artificial intelligence firm Cerebras announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 22 November, marking a new step in the Emirati security artificial intell...
TURKEY/QATAR : MIT strengthens cooperation with Qatar's intelligence services ahead of 2022 World Cup
Ahead of next year's football World Cup, officers of the MIT, Turkey's intelligence service (IO, 04/11/21), have been flocking to
FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA : Framatome and Rosatom support Kazakhstan's nuclear ambitions
Kazakhstan's long-term ambition to construct a nuclear power station received renewed impetus from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a meeting with
ISRAEL : Israel's sleight of hand cyber exports ban
Last week's announcement by the Israeli press of a new ban on the export of offensive cyber weapons to certain
FRANCE : Tax authorities catch up with hidden 'Kazakhgate' commission
In its decision of 24 November, the Paris administrative court of appeal upheld a tax fine for Aymeri de Montesquiou,
UNITED KINGDOM : British FCA expands toolkit ahead of possible boost of cryptocurrency oversight powers
According to our sources, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) already has at least one bidder for its £500,000 (€593,000)
UNITED KINGDOM/HONG KONG : Boris Johnson consults corporate intelligence firms on China
In mid-November, Oliver Laurence, head of the London office of the Asia-focused business intelligence and risk management firm I-OnAsia, accepted an invitation to talk with Prime Minister Boris J...
LEBANON : BDO, Salamé and Bank Audi's auditor, at centre of Swiss cases
Consultancy Alvarez & Marsal (IO, 09/09/20) threatened to abandon its audit of the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) on 24 November
FRANCE : Tracfin still waiting for its 'Sirano' big data platform
The report on the 2022 finance bill submitted to the office of the speaker of the French Senate by Senator
UNITED STATES/POLAND : Poland revives Washington lobbying efforts to protect its defence orders
Shaken by the migrant crisis at its border with Belarus (IO, 15/11/21) and concerned about Russian-Ukrainian tensions, the Polish government
FRANCE : Avascent takes off into New Space focussing on intelligence
According to our sources, the US consulting firm Avascent has been asked to conduct due diligence on the French satellite
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Datalink integrates French military surveillance systems sold to Riyadh
Things are speeding up on the fourth tranche of the vast Saudi Fransi Military Contract (SFMC) for the sale of French telecommunications systems to Riyadh. To set up the Saudi ministry of defence...
UZBEKISTAN : Mirziyoyev continues overhaul of security service after ousting spymaster Rustam Inoyatov
The newly re-elected Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev put an end to Rustam Inoyatov's long career in intelligence on 16 November.
EGYPT : Business diplomacy firm Nigma plays key role in Franco-Egyptian defence relations
More than 30 French companies will fly the flag for France at Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) in Cairo from 29
UNITED KINGDOM/SAUDI ARABIA : Airbus in a cold sweat over Turki bin Salman vs Saudi Arabian Airlines legal fight
On 1 November, London's High Court gave Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) some respite in the airline's dispute with Aircraft Leasing
FRANCE : Arrest of French cybersecurity agency volunteer calls cyber ransom negotiation into question
The arrest of ethical hacker and businessman Florent Curtet, who was charged with "computer hacking, extorsion in an organised gang
UKRAINE/RUSSIA : The information war between Kyiv and Moscow reaches fever pitch
The US Pentagon and British Ministry of Defence have lent their voices to the growing chorus of warnings of an imminent invasion of Ukraine by the Russian armies. Reporting from the ground, Intel...
EUROPE : EUCJ advocate general sends veiled warning to French government on bulk data collection and storage
On November 18 European Court of Justice (EUCJ) advocate general ManuelCampos Sánchez-Bordona published an opinion on several cases, including "Spacenet"
EUROPE : Multi-service AWO leads anti-Facebook offensive in Brussels
Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who leaked internal company documents to the US media, made very public appearances before
AUSTRALIA/SWEDEN : Saab counts on Scott Morrison's former policy adviser to plug submarines to Australia
Canberra and Stockholm discussed a potential order of Swedish shipyard Saab Kockums' (Saab conglomerate) conventionally powered Collins-class submarines, built with
UKRAINE : Ukrainian pro-Russian tycoon and MP Viktor Medvedchuk fights back against SBU monitoring
As Ukraine presses ahead with its programme of reforms (IO, 17/11/21), Volodymyr Zelensky's administration is stepping up the pressure on
RUSSIA : NIIRK spymasters scrutinise Baltic and Central Asian countries via state media
The Russian national research institute for the development of communication NIIRK has called on contacts within the Kremlin's media circles
INDIA/IRAN : Tehran briefed on New Delhi's plans for dealing with the Taliban
The regional security conference organised in New Delhi on 10 November, which mainly dealt with Afghanistan, enabled its main organiser, Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval, along with Sa...
YEMEN : Houthis appoint new general staff in battle for strategic town Maarib
Despite ever-increasing losses and casualties - which are filling Sana'a's hospitals - the Shiite Houthi militia remain determined to conquer
UKRAINE : Donetsk's master Rinat Akhmetov extends grasp after bitter consultants' battle
After being accused of fraud in Warsaw, the crumbs of Polish Leszek Czarneski's empire are swelling the portfolios of other
KAZAKHSTAN/EUROPE : ENRC heir Ibragimov Jr partners with Airbus for Kazakh space project
Nur-Sultan's Digital Forum on 28 October, which served as a showcase for OneWeb - the constellation of 150 Airbus Group
FRANCE/UNITED STATES : Unseenlabs looks to enlist ex-NGA executive to boost US operation
According to our sources, French radiofrequency signals interception (SIGINT) satellite operator Unseenlabs is in talks with Keith Masback, former head
UAE/ISRAEL : Bolstered by al-Nahyan family partnership, Tomer Avnon targets regional markets
A well known figure in the cyber industry, Tomer Avnon, who heads Avnon Group, decided to unveil his activities in Abu Dhabi at the Dubai Air Show on 14-18 October. A former special forces office...
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Ukrainian oil junior JKX to exit London following oligarchs' and consultants' battles for control
Ukrainian oil junior JKX Oil & Gas, owned 27.5% by Ukrainian oligarchs Igor Kolomoisky and Gennady Bogolyubov (IO, 30/09/21) via
RUSSIA : Russia's Operation Zero enters increasingly political zero-day market
The business of selling zero-day exploits, a market increasingly exposed to US sanctions as Singapore's Coseinc found out with its
EGYPT/SYRIA : Hossam Louka's star ascends within Syrian intelligence
Dispatched to Cairo by Bashar Al Assad to attend the second Arab Intelligence Forum, which was organised by Egyptian spymaster
UNITED STATES : How Draken has made its way to Royal Saudi Air Force
Draken International, a US provider of retired military fighter jets to the Pentagon's aggressor squadrons, has opened an office in
UNITED STATES : Kroll versus Kroll, the 2021 round
Jules Kroll, the man credited with pioneering the use of corporate investigations and who now runs K2 Integrity (ex-K2 Intelligence), appears ready to go all guns blazing into the battle for owne...
UNITED KINGDOM : Assheton Stewart Carter, the go-to expert in extractive industry CSR compliance
Assheton Stewart Carter, head of Tdi Sustainability, which began on 27 October assisting the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
RUSSIA : Next generation of Russian siloviki blocked by old guard
Russia's national security adviser Nikolay Patrushev celebrated his 71st birthday a few months ago and on 15 November, FSB chief
FRANCE/INDONESIA/UAE/QATAR/UNITED STATES : Gulf rivals enter Indonesian fighter contest between Rafale and F-16
The final negotiations for Abu Dhabi's Rafale order, revealed by Intelligence Online last month (IO, 19/10/21), are not the only
UNITED KINGDOM/EUROPE : Britain's Horizon and Austria's Airborne join forces to cater to law enforcement
The new partnership announced on 17 November between British satellite phone monitoring specialist Horizon Technologies and Austrian integrator Airborne Technologies
UAE : China and UAE flaunt partnership at Dubai Air Show
The UAE's International Golden Group (IGG), controlled by the ruling Al Nahyan family, paraded its international partnerships at the Dubai Air Show on 14-18 November. The Chinese part public defe...
FRANCE : French Intelligence service dodges compensation claim from former Indian informer
On 5 November, the French Council of State rejected an appeal from a former informer for the French internal intelligence
GERMANY : Canada's EXFO adapts German police's IMSI catcher to 5G
In late October, the Hamburg police force took steps to upgrade its international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher tools to
BELGIUM : Belgian intelligence pushes for reform amid increasing restrictions
The "legislative changes" mentioned in the VSSE's annual report published on 29 October appear to be the Belgian state security service's way of calling on action from justice minister Vincent Va...
UNITED KINGDOM : Diligencia digs data for private investigators in Arab world
The company that processes legal data in countries with complex governance rules, Diligencia, has hired Jonathan Siklos to run its
SYRIA/UAE : Syrian firms use Expo 2020 Dubai to get back into the international business scene
After having attended the inauguration of the Syrian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in October (IO, 11/10/21), Syrian economy minister
Russia : KGB-FSB veterans who attacked the Kremlin have since gone into business
On 8 November, the website of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) published an open letter written by
INDIA/TAJIKISTAN : India strengthens foothold in Tajikistan to keep watch on Kabul and Islamabad
The partnership signed with Dushanbe on 9 November rounds off India's plan to become the new intelligence hub for Afghanistan (IO, 15/10/21). The sweeping bilateral agreement, signed by Prime Min...
TURKEY : Mossad and VEVAK targeted by Turkish counter-espionage service
Turkish intelligence service MIT, which is already heavily engaged outside Turkey, is also making a particular effort to strengthen its
INDIA : Agents prepped for Leonardo's return to India
Leonardo is getting ready to return to India's defence sector after a 2015 ban from bidding on defence contracts in
UAE : Newbie AFB Systems already laying tracks for Italian cyber in Dubai
Created less than a month ago, the new Emirati distributor AFB Systems has grand plans to make it big on
SINGAPORE : US-based cyber firm Infra plants flag in Singapore
While the Singaporean zero-day vulnerabilities company Coseinc was blacklisted by the US on 3 November (IO, 08/11/21), joining Israel's NSO
EUROPE : FATF guidance on crypto-assets opens path for crypto compliance specialists
The updated guidance on virtual assets published by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 28 October should prompt a
CHINA/FRANCE : China's Fatri gets foothold in France through Airbus and French parliament connections
The Dubai Air Show on 14-18 November offered Norbert Ducrot, once Airbus Group's head of sales in Asia, the opportunity
UNITED STATES/KUWAIT : CIA is hard at work behind the scenes in Kuwait
According to our sources, Kuwait's State Security, headed since September 2020 by Salem bin Nawaf al-Sabah (IO, 23/09/20) - the
VIETNAM : IAI plays trump card for spy-satellite deal
According to our sources, a pumped up sales force from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) touched down in Hanoi via Dubai
CYPRUS/ISRAEL : Israeli Eitanium emerges from woodwork financed by sector heavyweights
Although Eran Karpen has disappeared from the management team list on the website of CommuniTake Technologies, an Israeli company specialising in high security mobile phones, he is still close to...
IRAN/SYRIA : Magnate Fahd Darwish leads Iranian economic offensive in Damascus
Some 160 Iranian companies will attend the "Made in Iran" fair in Damascus on 29 November-3 December as Tehran moves
FRANCE : French Vador spy plane to change its ISR systems
According to our sources, the French-made light surveillance and intelligence plane Vador is to change its electro-optical imaging system, the
SWITZERLAND/UKRAINE : Battle for return of Yanukovych clan assets progresses in fits and starts
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) launched yet another probe against Viktor Yanukovych in early November, adding another layer to the Kyiv government's legal onslaught against the former pr...
UNITED KINGDOM : Alaco boosts discreet Swiss office
Amy Lashinsky and Ambrose Carey's corporate intelligence firm Alaco has recently boosted its Geneval office, appointing Daniel Vassall-Adams last month
IRAQ : Iraqi National Intelligence Service barricades itself in after the attack on Al Kazemi
The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS, IO, 18/10/21), which has been in the sights of certain pro-Iranian Shiite militias for
UAE/PALESTINE : Spy chief Majed Faraj presses his case to succeed Abbas in Dubai
Majed Faraj, head of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service (IO, 29/09/21), was in Dubai on 31 October to inaugurate the
UNITED STATES : US Congress looks to secure tighter control of New Space
As well as tougher scrutiny of investments in the US' burgeoning space sector, influential US Senator Dianne Feinstein, who served
FRANCE : FTI's French investigations team falls apart
FTI Consulting's Paris investigation and compliance department has recently lost its chief, Stephanie Lhomme, who left the company this month
GERMANY/EGYPT/NETHERLANDS : Dutch court case rocks the boat of TKMS and Thales Egyptian naval mega-deal
An ongoing emergency procedure to halt Dutch arms sales to Egypt, brought by peace and human rights organisations, could hamper
FRANCE/AFRICA : Prométhée offers custom-made geospatial intelligence platforms to Gulf and African clients
The fledgling French firm Prométhé laid the groundwork for its expansion into Africa by signing a letter of intent on
EUROPE/SOUTH KOREA : Airbus turns page on turbulent period in Seoul
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced the "unmannization" of its Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) on 19-24 October, marking a tu...
UAE/UNITED STATES : US interceptor satellite specialist HawkEye strengthens foothold in UAE
Announced on 8 November, HawkEye 360's latest funding round has confirmed its growing position in the Emirates, with the entry
UNITED KINGDOM : Boris Johnson's economic intelligence unit creates fresh market for investigation companies
The British government's newly created Investment Security Unit (ISU) will not officially launch before January, but the task force, which
UNITED KINGDOM : UK to streamline influence operations to help with its new ambitions in Indo-Pacific
Announcing its award of an "integrated multi-channel influence methods" contract to US firm Rand Corp on 5 November, the British
SWITZERLAND : Swiss intelligence takes a step in Washington's direction
Christian Dussey's appointment as head of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) on 10 November will bring the service closer to
UKRAINE : US trader Cargill tops up Kyiv budget, again
The Ukrainian prime minister Denys Chmyhal discreetly signed an order on 8 November to allow Kyiv to borrow up to
SYRIA/BELARUS : Minsk makes murky play to become first EU migrant smuggler
While tension mounts between Minsk and the European Union (EU), and in the face of a resurgent internal crisis (IO, 27/10/21), Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko is still able to rely on a...
RUSSIA/TURKEY : Tuncay Ozilhan takes care of Turkey's business interests in strategic Tatarstan market
Turkish businessman Tuncay Ozilhan's visit to Tatar president Rustam Minnikhanov on 3 November was more than a simple courtesy call.
UKRAINE/RUSSIA : SBU accuses FSB of masterminding Armageddon group 'cyber-occupation'
On 4 November, the SBU claimed it had discovered who has been behind the cyber attacks made against Ukraine between 2014 and
UNITED KINGDOM : London lays groundwork for British cyber among Gulf allies
Its decision on 21 October to award £150,000 (€175,000) over six months to Cyber London Accelerator (CyLon) for it to
CYPRUS/CANADA : IMSI-catcher maker Octasic takes root in Europe from Cyprus
The Canadian geolocation specialist Octasic was in Paris to attend the Milipol event from 19 to 22 October as it
EUROPE : Tracfin weighs in on international financial intelligence effort against violent far-right organisations
A document published on 26 October by the Information Exchange Working Group (IEWG) of the Egmont Group, a body that brings together the financial intelligence services of most countries in the w...
SYRIA : Pasdaran attacks US's Al-Tanf Syrian Garrison
Ismail Qaani, (IO 24/09/21) the head of Iran's Quds Force, met Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on 27 October
FRANCE : Franco-Canadian venture RFence debuts in radio-frequency interceptions market
Young French company RFence, which took part in the Paris security trade fair Milipol from 19 to 22 October, has
INDIA : Indian cyber threat specialist Secfence starts afresh in Europe
The Indian cyber intelligence firm Secfence, which is listed as a sponsor of Berlin's international security conference Offensivecon 2022, was struck off the business registry in its country of o...
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Facebook's intelligence in Europe now operated by an anonymous fund
In its financial statements published 13 October, the security and intelligence firm Falanx Group happily announced it had won a
TURKEY/UKRAINE : Ukraine's use of Turkish drones highlights flourishing bilateral defence relationship
The artillery fire exhanged between the Ukrainian Regular Army and the separatist militia from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR,
UNITED KINGDOM : Francis Maude joins Big Four and Kroll on team advising Irish government
The Irish government has turned to an army of private consultants - some of whom know a lot more about the Gulf than Ireland - to advise on its national development review unveiled on 3 November....
BAHRAIN : Crown prince oversees intelligence services' digital transformation
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa had a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the COP26
HONG KONG : Ex-Kroll bureau chief Richard Dailly still believes in Hong Kong's private investigation market
Richard Dailly, the former managing director of Kroll's Hong Kong office, last month founded month the firm Leighton Road Consulting
UNITED KINGDOM : Former Rio Tinto investigator Livingstone & Co orphaned
The fate of the corporate intelligence firm Livingstone & Co is up in the air following the sudden death of
RUSSIA/INDIA : Moscow deploys military exports supremo Shugaev to sell the S550 to New Delhi
To support its ongoing military exports charm offensive, the Russian defence industry has recently deployed Dmitry Shugaev to tout the
AFRICA/ISRAEL : Israel's Rayzone Group's inevitable African turn
Israel's Rayzone Group presented its interception and cybersecurity systems to a group of Democratic Republic of Congo officials led by
FRANCE : New anti-bribery bill appears doomed
MP Raphaël Gauvain has long hoped that his bill, which he finally tabled on 19 October, would be included in
FRANCE/LEBANON : Lebanon's port security services seek good practice advice from Le Havre and Marseille
Lebanese security officials recently toured the French ports of Le Havre and Marseille as part of a project led by
UNITED KINGDOM : The fall of Afghanistan: intelligence services were blinded by the Chilcot Inquiry
At a hearing on 26 October before the parliamentary defence committee on the subject of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, British
EGYPT/FRANCE : HeidelbergCement follows Vicat's lead and challenges Cairo
In October, German group HeidelbergCement and its offshoots HeidelbergCement France, ItalCementi SPA and Ciments Français registered a request for arbitration
EUROPE : From Paris, drone manufacturer Nordic Unmanned bets on defence markets
Integrator Nordic Unmanned signed its fourth contract last month with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in less than three
UNITED STATES : US-Saudi business diplomacy firm Quincy Group looks for new outlets after losing star cyber consultant
Quincy Group, which acts as an intermediary between leading American firms and Saudi public bodies, has taken a hard knock. Some weeks ago, Cory Stephens, the consultant on which it has been depe...
FRANCE/VIETNAM : Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talks satellites and energy in Paris
During his two days in Paris at the end of last week, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron,
CHINA/SINGAPORE/UNITED STATES : Blacklisted by the US, zero day distributor COSEINC works on for China's Pwnzen
The blacklisting of Singaporean security company Computer Security Initiative Consultancy (COSEINC) by the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and
EUROPE : European Commission prepares toolkit to ward off foreign interference
The publication of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE)'s preliminary report on 18 October shows that t...
LEBANON : London court decision gives hope to expats with dollars in Lebanese banks
The High Court of Justice in London has rejected a request from the Beirut-based Banque Libano-Française (BLF) to declare a
UKRAINE : Kyiv's anti-disinformation arsenal makes grand debut against former president
Slowed by teething problems (IO, 22/06/21), Ukraine's anti-disinformation centre presented its first major reports in late October. Ukraine's security service
FRANCE : Parliament is latest body to fret about AID defence innovation agency
Fabien Gouttefarde, the ruling party's rapporteur on the 2022 finance bill, registered his report at the National Assembly on 20
TURKEY/IRAN : Turkish and Iranian spies take cloak and dagger warfare from Afghanistan to Lebanon
As our sources tell us, the Iranian ministry of intelligence, and to a greater extent Pasdaran (Guardians of the Revolution)
RUSSIA : Disgraced oligarch Telman Ismailov's troubles follow him to the French Riviera
Telman Ismailov narrowly escaped extradition to Russia by obtaining asylum in Montenegro in the week of 18 October, two weeks
FRANCE : Following Blenheim, France's ADIT gets into offset consulting
France's ADIT now has several business diplomacy subsidiaries, including Eurotradia, which it acquired at the end of last year (IO,
ISRAEL/AFRICA : Brand new Cyber Intelligence reawakens Elbit's African dreams
African reseller FBI was a big feature at Israeli company Cyber Intelligence's stand at the Milipol trade fair, held in Paris from
FRANCE : Lagrange, French intelligence's covert technical forum
Mentioned in passing in the footnotes of the latest parliamentary delegation for intelligence report out in October, the "Lagrange group" is an indispensable forum used by France's intelligence s...
GERMANY : German security sector tries its hand at asymmetric private security
Recently created German security company Solitaire Advisory's recruitment of consultant Andre Ufer in mid-October will give it access to the
RUSSIA/KYRGYZSTAN : Afghan tensions affords Bishkek spymasters strategic regional role
While the current political situation in Afghanistan has led to the emergence of a diplomatic-security hub in Dushanbe (IO, 10/09/21),
TURKEY/SYRIA : MIT's north Syrian outpost reflects Turkish unease
Turkey is clearly heading towards more intervention in northern Syria, a position confirmed by foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's words on
EUROPE/FRANCE/NETHERLANDS/GERMANY : Vimac Consultancy adds diplomatic touch to TKMS Dutch submarine bid
While the Dutch defence minister Henk Kamp announced on 27 September that the call for tenders to replace four Royal
UNITED STATES/SINGAPORE : Far from Beijing, SS8 makes second stab at Asian growth
On 21 October, US law interception specialist SS8 announced the opening of an office in Singapore. This marks a fresh attempt
UNITED STATES/INDIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Aditya Jain follows in...teer Rajat Khare under the watchful eye of Indian intelligence
On 22 October, via his lawyers from law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, former arms transporter for the US Government Farhad Azima renewed his application to use discovery procedure against investiga...
IRAQ : In-house fighting rocks country's financial lifeline INOC
Having gathered on 21 October for the third time since the board was formed in August, the Iraq National Oil
UNITED KINGDOM : After fighting fake news in the US elections, Logically accelerates on the Indian market
Specialist anti-disinformation company Logically, which on 12 October joined the Upscale 7.0 programme run by UK high-tech business accelerator Tech Nation,
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Moscow takes keen interest in French ambassador appointment
The French foreign ministry is currently mulling the succession of Pierre Lévy, who is due to retire as France's ambassador
EUROPE/FRANCE/UAE : Key Technologies takes environmental route to supply interception tools to the UAE
Key Technologies presented its Theia border monitoring system at the Milipol security trade fair in Paris on 19-22 October. The
UNITED KINGDOM : Gulf sponsors have high hopes in well-connected UK Abraham Accords Group
The newly established UK Abraham Accords Group, an informal grouping of British MPs dedicated to promoting and ensuring the future of the normalisation of relations between Israel, the UAE and Ba...
FRANCE : France's Artemis project faced with tsunami of data and technical challenges
The upbeat launch in May of joint venture Althea between Atos and Thales - meant to carry the Artemis military
ISRAEL : Uvision tries to break into Russian neighbours' skies
Uvision Air is beginning to become a familiar contractor in Washington, where it showcased its wares at the US Army's
UNITED STATES : STAG cyber specialists on reconnaissance mission for USCYBERCOM
The US firm Strategic Technologies Analytics Group (STAG) has won a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), published
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Macron expected in Kyiv to relaunch stalled defence deals
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to make a trip to Kyiv later this month, keeping an old promise to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky that he would visit the Ukrainian capital befor...
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Mintz acquires Bishop Group still in mourning
It was announced on 25 October that one of London's long-standing business intelligence players had been sold to a new
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : US Treasury grapples with complex application of Caesar Act
Egypt's oil minister Tariq Al Mulla announced on 26 October that there will be a delivery of gas to Lebanon
LUXEMBOURG : Accused of embezzling the fortune of former agent Gaydamak, Zeev Zacharin indicted in Luxembourg
According to our sources, Zeev Zacharin, the former head of the Israel Defense Forces' covert operations in Lebanon and now
FRANCE : Prison intelligence still seeks role within French intelligence community
At a hearing of the parliamentary commission into the dysfunction and shortcomings of France's penitentiary system on 21 October Charlotte
IRAQ/LEBANON : Traders compete to supply Beirut under Iraqi-Lebanese oil deal
According to our sources, three private oil companies are competing for the first time for the third monthly tender to
UAE/ISRAEL : Successor to Mohamed bin Zayed's cyberattack outfit DarkMatter teams with ex-Mossad chief's startup
In a further rapprochement with Israel's cyber sector, Beacon Red, a subsidiary of the UAE defence company EDGE Group, has
RUSSIA : Mironov's Kremlin ascent follows in wake of new NS adviser Seryshev
On 25 October, Anatoly Seryshev obtained a seat for himself on the omnipotent National Security Council, a body that assists Vladimir Putin in most of his decisions via numerous commissions (IO, ...
FRANCE : Security firm Galea faces major financial hurdles in its French Guiana homeland
As we understand, Galea Guyane may soon be able to resolve its business dispute even if this means closing shop
RUSSIA : Changes in FSB regional heads highlight rising stars
One of the most successful officers in this year's promotions was FSB two-star general Igor Goldobin, who was transferred on
UNITED KINGDOM : Satellite Applications Catapult also boosts Britain's satellite intelligence industry
Under a contract published on 12 October, the British government has asked the Satellite Applications Catapult (SAP), part of the
UAE : In Gulf space race Abu Dhabi steals lead over Dubai
France hosted the French Space Days UAE in Paris 26-28 October at a time when an inter-emirati influence battle is going on in the space sector. The UAE's President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ap...
EUROPE : Luxembourg-based Scorechain raises Swiss capital to develop cryptocurrency compliance tools
Following a funding round that closed at €2m on 20 October, crypto-compliance firm Scorechain now boasts fund Crypto Valley Association
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA : New Russian-Moldovan employers' organisation hires Moldova's ex-president Dodon
Igor Dodon, Moldova's pro-Russian former president, leapt at the opportunity to head the new Russian-Moldovan business union, a position offered
PAKISTAN : Imran Khan and military chief disagree over ISI chief nominee
Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan praised the system of promotion in the security services on the occasion of a public
RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : A legal row has broken out between two Pentagon Soviet air industry specialists
Although it withdrew one complaint it filed with a Virginia Eastern District court on 18 October, aircraft services company Flight
ISRAEL/FRANCE : Cyberintelligence firm Intellexa makes Paris appearance with Orion
The Milipol security and law-and-order trade fair in Paris on 19-22 October provided cyber-intelligence industry veteran Tal Dilian with an
EUROPE : Belgium, Switzerland, Montenegro: small European states go intel tech shopping
Several members of the Swiss cantonal police perused the stands at the Milipol trade fair, held from 19 to 22 October in Paris. They were especially interested in geolocation specialists, such as...
BELARUS : Lukashenko holds off on inevitable KGB reform
At the meeting of security chiefs he called on 18 October, Alexander Lukashenko was particularly critical of officers of his
EGYPT : Army tighten grip on New Administrative Capital
As the first Egyptian public servants move into Egypt's New Administrative Capital, a project advocated for by President Abdel Fattah
UNITED STATES : Big data specialist Vertica's technology taken up by security forces
The US firm Vertica Systems will demonstrate practical examples of its algorithms for identifying suspects in police investigations at ISS
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Under US pressure, Deripaska hopes supporters can provide relief in Europe
Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, a traditional holiday destination for Russians, was a guest at the Franco-Russian business forum
LEBANON : Lebanon's creditors launch Argentinian-style strategy against Beirut
The executive director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mahmoud Mohieldin confirmed the resumption of talks on 19 October with the new Lebanese government headed by Najib Mikati (IO, 30/0...
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED STATES : Alvarez & Marsal caught up in Kazakh campaign against oligarch Anatol Stati
On 12 October the law firm Norton Rose relaunched hostilities on behalf of the Kazakh government with a request in
YEMEN/SYRIA : As battle for Maarib intensifies, Houthi intelligence pursues support in Damascus
Abdullah Ali Saleh Sabri, who was appointed Yemeni ambassador to Syria in November 2020 and is part of the Houthi
RUSSIA : Sergey Shishkarev guides UAE in Arctic
As part of its ambition to invest in Russia, Abu Dhabi's sovereign fund Mubadala has been cosying up to Russian
FRANCE : Deveryware tests waters at Milipol to connect to Aleph Networks' solutions
According to our sources, the French company Deveryware presented solutions reinforced with new capacity building blocks to its institutional clients
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Boris Johnson hosts Ukrainian president in attempt to save navy deal
London is to host a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky this week to finalise a naval deal drafted last year. Keen to boost its fleet, Ukraine has been on a spending spree fo...
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : FTI's dissolved forensics league regroups at Ankura
Joining Ankura Consulting's Dubai office this month, experts Paul Walker, Andrew Pimlott and Muthmainur Rahman will be able to reconstitute
SYRIA : UN plays double game on Syrian refugee question
As the sixth session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee got under way on 18 October at the United Nations' European
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Vadim Rabinovich champions fellow parliamentarians' pro-Russia cause in Moscow
Standing in Moscow's Red Square on 18 October, Ukrainian MP Vadim Rabinovich, co-chair of the Ukrainian pro-Russia party Opposition Platform
FRANCE/QATAR : CS Group and Thales hope for windfall from Franco-Qatari anti-drone warfare cooperation
The Qatar ministry of the interior was the guest of honour at the Milipol defence and security trade fair held
FRANCE : France's defence innovation agency turns to usual suspects to develop drone SIGINT technology
Its role is to stimuate innovation and foster new players and new technologies, but France's AID - Agence de l'Innovation
ISRAEL : New Mossad chief deploys African strategy
According to our sources, Mossad is hoping to host a gathering of African spymasters in Tel Aviv at the beginning of November. The meeting, which will focus on areas of interest to Israel in Afri...
FRANCE : In Viginum's shadows, 'state start-up' Disinfo fights fake news for French foreign ministry
The yearly report of the foreign ministry's digital ambassador, Henri Verdier, published on 6 October, shines a light on Disinfo.
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Kyiv quietly fuming over Russian memorial to Soviet-era secret agent in Crimea
Sergey Naryshkin's trip on 11 October to Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, grated on the Ukrainian security service SBU, already
AUSTRIA : New international team at Austrian intelligence brings hopes for a fresh era
According to our sources, hopes are high among Western partners, especially Berlin, that the international experience of the new team
UNITED KINGDOM : Mark Garnier, the MP helping UK's space sector take off
London's enthusiasm for the development of the space sector is attracting a number of interested parties. The chairman of the
AZERBAIJAN/IRAN : Pasdaran seek to open new front against Azerbaijan
Tehran publicly refuted rumours that it had closed its airspace to Azerbaijan, in an announcement on 11 October, however it is struggling to conceal its increasing irritation with its neighbour. ...
EUROPE : German Ralf Wegener builds small cyber-intelligence empire in Cyprus and beyond
Already widely used as a support base by Israeli cyber-intelligence companies, Cyprus is increasingly being utilised by European specialists in
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Kazakh mining magnate's consultants battle it out in London court
The publicity-shy Aman Kozhabayev's business affairs came under the spotlight in a recent London courtroom battle between several UK-based consultants
ISRAEL : Shin Bet's technological transformation confirmed with appointment of new chief Ronan Bar
Ronan Bar, born Berezoski, was appointed to head Israel's internal intelligence service, Shin Bet, replacing Nadav Argaman, on 13 October.
RUSSIA : Personality protection service serves as siloviki incubator for the Kremlin
Dmitry Mironov, a former officer in the Federal Protective Service (FSO, IO, 22/01/14), was promoted on 12 October to the
CHINA/LEBANON : Lebanese Tripoli opens new door to Chinese investors in Syria
With the reconstruction of Beirut's port yet to get underway, the port of Tripoli (IO, 24/11/20), in the north of
FRANCE : Vador spy plane programme stuck in the doldrums
David Attali, who became CAE Aviation's CEO a fortnight ago after the phased departure of the long-serving Laurent Aubigny, takes the helm at time when French intelligence is increasingly reliant...
UNITED KINGDOM : Charles Webb preps next generation at Hanuman
The 2020 financial statements of Charles Webb's corporate intelligence firm Hanuman Partners, published in late September, show a company making
UNITED KINGDOM : Raedas muscles up in forensics accounting
Responding to growing demand from its clients, Raedas Consulting, the business intelligence firm founded by former GPW staffers Joana Rego, Andrew Wordsworth
RUSSIA : CIS spymasters take their orders from Moscow
Two days before a gathering of the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the intelligence chiefs
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Rosatom taps French contacts to make headway on hydrogen programmes
Jumping in ahead of the Franco-Russian forum on hydrogen in Paris in December (IO, 02/09/21), the Institut Choiseul's Russia Business
ISRAEL : Cellebrite buys Digital Clues to plug offensive OSINT gap
Pressured by its forensics competitors, the Israeli-US cyber intelligence firm Cellebrite announced on 11 October that it has bought the
IRAQ/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : KRG communications service armed from London and Washington
Dominant in Nechirvan Barzani's Kurdistan Regional Government (GRK), the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was able to keep its upper hand during the 10 October parliamentary elections, winning 33...
FRANCE : Potential division of tax intelligence at Bercy
MP Christine Pirès Beaune (Socialist Party, PS) is returning to the idea of structuring tax intelligence, in the context of
EUROPE/PAKISTAN : Pakistani intelligence service's activity in Europe invigorated by its victory in Afghanistan
The death of Pakistani physicist Abdul Qadeer Khan on 10 October did not mark the end of Pakistan's business intelligence drive. In
CHINA/FRANCE : Alstom faces anti-corruption risk in wake of French court ruling in favour of ex-China agent
In a ruling handed down on 29 September, the French Cour de Cassation overturned a Paris appeals court ruling of
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : French government beefs up English Channel monitoring with British-funded technology
According to our sources, France's Gendarmerie Nationale is to equip its H125 helicopters (formerly the AS350 Ecureuil) with the Wescam
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Guidepost Solutions hires new sleuth for London office
After years of just scraping by in London, the local branch of US investigative and compliance Guidepost Solutions, founded and
FRANCE/UAE/INDIA : Paris and Dassault in push to sell Rafale fighters
The diplomatic team at the Elysée Palace is currently focusing on preparations for Emmanuel Macron's last Middle East tour of his five-year presidential mandate, which is due to take him to Abu ...
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN : ISI concerned about alliance between Islamic State in Khorasan and Pakistan's Taliban
In a collateral effect of the Taliban taking power in Afghanistan (IO, 01/10/21), the movement's Pakistani counterpart Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
FRANCE : Foreign and military intelligence to face spyplane shortfall once Transall Gabriel aircraft retire
In the first quarter of 2022, France's external and military intelligence agencies, respectively the DGSE and DRM (Direction du renseignement
FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Franco-British Council holds strong despite AUKUS curveball
While the announcement of the AUKUS alliance may have scuppered plans for its defence conference planned for the week of
TAJIKISTAN : Loyal Boeing customer Somon Air flies the Tajik president round Europe
Tajik president Emomali Rahmon, who was hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron at the Élysee Palace on 13 October, arrived
FRANCE : France's SGDSN budget finances new anti-fake news technology for Viginum
The annual budget's PAP (projets annuels de performances - which give details of planned activities, cost and objectives allocated to
IRAQ : Mustafa Al Kazemi's spymasters move to provide security for highly charged election
Despite the fears of the Iraqi authorities, the 10 October parliamentary elections went off without a hitch thanks to a large-scale mobilisation of the country's security forces - mobilising more...
AUSTRIA/UNITED STATES : Career of CIA head in Vienna derailed by 'Havana syndrome'
As revealed by the Washington Post on 23 September, the recall of the CIA station chief in Vienna, Jonathan R,
YEMEN/OMAN : Riyadh and Washington back Oman as mediator in Yemen conflict
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who visited the new Saudi city of Neom on 27 September with Yemen special
UKRAINE : Zelensky consultant pals up with Rinat Akhmetov after being ousted from Rada chairmanship
Dmytro Razumkov, the latest aide to lose favour with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, was removed as speaker of the Verkhovna
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM/ITALY : Project Associates hired to beef up Italian influence at UN
A contract between the Italian delegation to the UN and the online influence firm Project Associates, registered at the Department
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM/INDIA/UNITED STATES : New Delhi positions itself as Afghanistan intelligence hub
A joint working group on Afghanistan set up by Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) or MI6, and India's external intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is starting to ...
UKRAINE : South Korean trader Hyen Chung targeted by Zelensky's sanctions
Discreet South Korean businessman Hyen Chung and his Singapore-based trading company Zasshid PTE stand out a mile from the rest
RUSSIA : FSB hushes up Russian space programme
Alexander Bortnikov's order of 28 September, which details a list of information that, if disseminated or transmitted to a foreign
UNITED STATES/YEMEN : Tecore Networks sought to supply Yemen's government forces
While Yemen's loyalist forces remain in difficulty against the Houthi rebels, particularly in the strategic region of Marib (IO, 09/07/21) - representatives
UNITED KINGDOM : KPMG to help MoD's Digital Foundry develop ad hoc cyber-intelligence sensors
The opening of the UK's new National Cyber Force on the outskirts of Samlesbury village, Lancashire, on 4 October, is
UAE/UNITED KINGDOM/ISRAEL : After NSO, Emir of Dubai hires ... Sygnia as cyber counter-expert in custody battle with ex-wife
The Emir of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum lost his appeal in London's High Court, on 6 October, for the custody battle against his wife, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan, despite th...
JORDAN : GID chief plays key role in restoring Jordan's diplomatic relations with Syria
A phone call between Syria's President Bashar Al Assad and King Abdullah II of Jordan on 3 October marked the
UAE : DP World relies on local consultants to break into Russian Arctic
The promise of access to Russia's Arctic maritime routes has prompted the publicly owned Emirati maritime freight giant Dubai Ports
UAE/EUROPE : Obsidium on quest in Gulf with former top intelligence officer Vitale
Cybersecurity firms the world over are flocking to the United Arab Emirates, including Italy's own Obsidium. This firm founded in
UNITED KINGDOM : Oman's Thamer Al Shanfari probed by own ex-lawyers and Neotas
The London High Court found Omani businessman Thamer Al Shanfari guilty of contempt of court on 27 September for not
IRAQ/LEBANON : How Iraq Telecom won its first bout against Bazarni operator in Beirut
On 27 September, the Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Center (LAMC) in Beirut issued its final award in favour of Iraq Telecom, a joint venture between Orange and Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility...
UNITED KINGDOM : Jason Wright reteams with Krolls at K2, marking end of Argo Associates
Jason Wright's Hong Kong-based consulting firm Argo Associates is to close following Wright's recent appointment as managing director of K2
UAE/UNITED STATES/CHINA : Washington concerned about joint Chinese-Emirati push into Europe
With impeccable timing, the construction of a Sinopharm anti-Covid 19 vaccine factory in Belgrade, the company's first in Europe, got
FRANCE : Mentor Consultant serves as light cavalry for Orange's military cloud
Orange, CS Group, Mentor Consultant and Mentor's sister association Le Club Valin launched the new association Ginum (Groupement des Intervenants
UKRAINE : Odessa's port industries seek to navigate between oligarchs and private investors to survive
The lack of natural gas supply to the state-owned Odessa Port Plant (OPZ), which has been shut down since 18
UAE : Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan takes control of sovereign industries amid dynasty war
In teaming up with Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP) in September, a partnership born by the group's drive to rival Dubai's DP World, the French shipping group CMA-CGM seems to have joined forces with the Un...
UNITED STATES : HawkEye scores first US space-based SIGINT contracts
The US operator of a constellation of radio frequency (RF) signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellites, HawkEye 360, is gaining strides in the
UNITED KINGDOM : Home Office picks Minerva, Torchlight and ...int to give intelligence training to foreign security services
On 12 September, government security specialist Torchlight Group was taken over by its rival, Axiom International, with backing from investment
FRANCE : Military security gets a bumper budget allocation in 2022
After a 13% increase in 2021, the budget allocation of the Direction du Renseignement et de la Sécurité de la
PALESTINE/EGYPT : Hamas holds Cairo meeting at Abbas Kamel's invitation
Abbas Kamel, head of the Mukhabarat Al Amma, Egypt's general intelligence service (IO, 24/08/21), laid out the red carpet for
SYRIA/UAE : Damascus reconnects with Emirati business world at Dubai Expo
At the Univeral Exhibition - which opened in Dubai on 1 October, a year behind schedule due to the Covid
FRANCE : French prison intelligence in need of cyber-tools
In its recent annual report, published on 5 October, the French parliamentary intelligence delegation's review of progress on its previous
RUSSIA : Moscow shakes up soft power apparatus
The creation of the soft power-focused "43rd Department" at the Russian foreign ministry announced on 30 September was of strong interest to those parts of the Russian apparatus already engaged i...
UNITED KINGDOM : New players in armed security set their sights on Africa with help from SAS veteran Blagbrough
British armed security company Vellichor International is facing its first test in Libya. Its largest client, Italian oil company ENI,
UKRAINE : Chambers of commerce weigh up prospects for government's deoligarchisation drive
The International Council of Business Associations and Chambers in Ukraine (ICBAC), which was founded in 2017, held its annual post-summer holiday
INDIA/PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN : India's intelligence service RAW deployed in bid to influence Afghan affairs
Verbal clashes between India and Pakistan were more heated than usual at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 17 September
RUSSIA/FRANCE : French former far-right wordsmith Emmanuel Leroy joins Franco-Russian rapprochement efforts
Accompanied by a representative of the political department of the Russian embassy in Paris, professional risk consultant Emmanuel Leroy launched
INDONESIA/ISRAEL : Cognyte consolidates its position in Indonesian cyber intelligence market
Israeli cyber intelligence company Cognyte, a spin-off from Israel's Verint group, is looking for a new contract in Indonesia's signals intelligence (SIGINT)
RUSSIA/VIETNAM : Moscow strengthens ties with Hanoi in response to Indo-Pacific diplomatic shift
Vietnam's foreign minister Bui Thanh Son ended his recent visit to Moscow with a press conference on 28 September given jointly with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Appointed on 8 April th...
TURKEY : Raft of generals resign from Turkish army over Erdogan's Syrian policy
At least five special forces and elite commando generals, all employed in Ankara's operations in Syria, have stepped down in
FRANCE : Paris La Défense business district hires ADIT to step up compliance
On 23 September, the public prosecutor's office appealed to the court of cassation so as to keep open the case
EUROPE : Ambitious Cy4gate appoints new management team in bid for market leadership
Continuing its management shakeup, the Italian cyberintelligence company Cy4gate announced the appointment of Marco Latini as its chief financial officer
IRAQ/UNITED STATES : Falcon cell restores image in mission with coalition
After the damaging blows to its reputation following a double suicide bombing in Bagdad in January (IO, 01/02/21) and clashes
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : French involvement in Libya spared from US intelligence investigation
The revised "Libya Stabilization Act" (LSA) approved by Congress on 29 September includes a small amendment that will reassure France.
POLAND/FRANCE : Lobbyist FairValue tries to connect Paris and Warsaw ahead of nuclear negotiations
In anticipation of renewed economic diplomacy between France and Poland, the lobbyist and communications consultancy FairValue Corporate & Public Affairs
FRANCE/UNITED STATES : Seaside village welcomes transatlantic cable
A dull patch of bare land running along a B-road next to a cemetery in a small town near Bordeaux will soon play a vital role in France's data and intelligence landscape. This small plot number A...
JAPAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Former UK diplomat Paul Madden helps Japanese groups take root in London
Since leaving the helm of the British embassy in Japan in February, top diplomat Paul Madden has drawn on his
UNITED STATES : US intelligence adopts two-pronged approach on Houthis and Riyadh
Tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, filed on 22 September by the Senate Armed
NORTH AFRICA/UNITED STATES : Tunisian army to receive US intelligence technology boost
The Tunisian armed forces will have their intelligence capacities boosted and interoperability with their US counterparts improved by two Foreign
KUWAIT/UNITED KINGDOM : GPG provides British government with access to Kuwait's anti-corruption cases
British firm Global Partners Governance (GPG) landed a particularly strategic contract with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 20 September, to advise the Kuwait Anti-Corrup...
UNITED KINGDOM : Quantexa, antifraud's Palantir, pursues expansion with British government
A contract made public on 24 September, between British data mining firm Quantexa and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's cabinet office,
TURKEY/IRAQ : Turkish entrepreneurs restock in Erbil
The Turkish trade minister Mehmet Mus's official visit to Erbil to meet his counterpart in the Kurdistan Regional Government Kemal
FRANCE : French Parliamentary committee on Intelligence rep...r greater collaboration between domestic intelligence services
In its annual report published today, the Parliamentary Delegation on Intelligence (DPR) focuses at length on the issues of domestic
LEBANON : Lebanese spymasters hold key to Beirut port probe
Temporarily taken off the Beirut port explosion investigation at the demand of Lebanon's interior minister Nouhad Machnouk on 27 September
GERMANY : German bug sweeper Albatross Projects wins business in US and China
French developers of electronic security operations, or bug sweeping, which consists of detecting microphones and other intelligence-gathering devices in boardrooms
RUSSIA : Gennady Timchenko-Leonid Mikhelson's rock-solid alliance holds strong amid gas turmoil
The US indictment of Novatek's CFO Mark Gyetvay over tax fraud charges on 23 September does not have chairman Leonid
ISRAEL/IRAQ/UNITED STATES : Shimon Peres's financier son awaits normalisation to start investing in Iraq
Chemi Peres, the son of Israel's late president Shimon Peres, was a surprise virtual guest speaker at a conference on normalisation with Israel in Iraqi Kurdistan on 24 September. Peres fils, a f...
UNITED STATES : Through C4ADS, intelligence tech companies showcase their products
In its new report about North Korean ships falsifying their identity, published on 9 September, theCenter for Advanced Defence Studies
UNITED KINGDOM : National Security Secretariat execs courted by private sector
According to our sources, Peter Enskat, ex-Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), a branch of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS,
SAUDI ARABIA/IRAN/IRAQ : Riyadh and Tehran pursue secret dialogue in Baghdad
By sending a delegation to Baghdad on 21 September for talks with Riyadh's envoys for the fourth time since 9
FRANCE/BELGIUM : Belgian intelligence grapples with prohibition of bulk collection and storage of data by phone operators
Published mid-September, the 2020 report from Belgium's intelligence watchdog Permanent Committee 'R' (Comité Permanent de Contrôle des Services de Renseignement)
INDIA/FRANCE : France's Naval Group looks for new submarine contracts in Indo-Pacific region
As could be deduced from the highly publicised telephone conversation between French president Emmanuel Macron and Indian prime minister Narendra
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/CHINA : CIA fund interested in French start-up Prophesee despite its Chinese backers
Young French company Prophesee, which was assessed by IQT Labs, the new technology evaluation branch of CIA's venture capital arm
FRANCE : French senate quizzes DGSE about Naval Group's Australian failure
Bernard Emié, the director general of France's external intelligence service DGSE, will answer questions from the Senate foreign affairs and defence committee on 6 October on the cancelled order...
EGYPT/TURKEY : Muslim Brotherhood presence still hampering Turkey-Egypt rapprochement
With a first attempt to improve relations between their governments initiated in March (IO, 24/03/21), the Turkish and Egyptian intelligence
AFGHANISTAN : Taliban high command split between Baradar and Haqqani Network supporters
Despite the efforts of the new masters of Kabul to show a united front, the Talibans are struggling to hide
UKRAINE/UAE : Ukrainian Cognac king takes tipple to Dubai
Active in the spirits industry, particularly in Crimea, Logos, which will announce its new projects on 4 October, is looking
UNITED STATES : Spire makes move into space SIGINT
After acquiring Canada's exactEarth, its rival in the satellite monitoring of ship AID (Automatic Identification System) signals, in a deal
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Gazprom on menu of Fillon's Moscow visit
French politician François Fillon is set to meet Alexei Miller, managing director of Gazprom (IO, 02/09/21) when he goes to Moscow on 6 October, Intelligence Online has found out. Fillon will be...
UKRAINE : Ukraine's Surkis brothers suffer setback against Petro Poroshenko in Privat affair
Although a New York court recently suggested a pause in the case between Ukraine's Privatbank and its former owners Igor
SYRIA : Business magnate Tarif Akhras draws ire of Damas with renewed London ties
British members of parliament for the city of Manchester Afzal Khan and Jeff Smith sent a last-hope letter on 8 September to Her Majesty's
FRANCE : Government sends out feelers for changes to data storage legislation
Until tomorrow, Friday 1 October, phone and internet operators as well as hosting providers are invited to submit comments to the
LEBANON/ISRAEL : Halliburton's move into Israeli gas upsets Beirut
The Texan oil services company Halliburton and Greece's Energean Oil & Gas (IO, 18/11/20) announced a deal on 14 September
INDIA : Western anti-drone specialists home in on Indian market
India is currently looking to strengthen its anti-drone defences. It has become alarmed about the risks posed by drones following a number of incidents, particularly around its contested border w...
BELARUS : Siloviki take hold of diplomacy and industrial relations in Belarus
The nomination of Andrei Chernetsky, the former head of the main department of Belarus' KGB (IO, 05/05/21), as ambassador to
UNITED STATES : Quinlan on lookout for more investigators
Fast-developing US investigations company Quinlan, which is based in Charleston, South Carolina, is looking for new investigators and business development managers.
UNITED KINGDOM : Mosaic Advisers takes financial hit from pandemic
As the annual 2020-2021 accounts published by Companies House on 16 September show, British business intelligence company Mosaic Advisers saw its
ISRAEL : Israeli intelligence services shine in Palestinian prisoners' recapture
The recapture of the last two of six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from a prison in the north of Israel
SAUDI ARABIA : TMF handles Mohammed bin Salman's investments in Europe
TMF Group, the Dutch wealth management company which manages the European businesses of Saudi Arabia's sovereign Pubic Investment Fund (PIF),
FRANCE : Vinci subsidiary takes control of French bug-sweeper Siepel
Seeking funds to pursue its international projects, the French bug-sweeper Siepel has been acquired by Cegelec Défense, a subsidiary of
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES/AUSTRALIA/FRANCE : Naval Group's covey of advisers foiled by a phone call to London
Australia's bombshell decision on 15 September to both cancel its order for 12 submarines from Naval Group and join the new AUKUS alliance, formed with the United Kingdom and the United States fo...
UNITED KINGDOM : Probe into property king Terry Rosenberg's firm brings Kroll back to South Africa
US business intelligence provider Kroll has turned its investigative eye to the Durban-based finance and real estate tycoon Terrence "Terry"
UNITED STATES : US-Paris anti-fake news contest snubs France
On 29 and 30 September, Disinfo Cloud will be holding the final round of its virtual event the US-Paris Tech
FRANCE : ANSSI given say on French cyberintelligence exports
A new decree published in France on 15 September has strengthened the powers of the national computer and information security
UKRAINE/RUSSIA/TURKEY : Turkey navigates narrow strait between Ukrainian defence and Russian gas
Within hours of Ukraine's internal intelligence service, the SBU, opening an investigation into the Russian general elections in Crimea on
SAUDI ARABIA : Turki bin Salman makes European business bow in Luxembourg
A soulless modern building just behind a motorway junction in the Luxembourg suburb of Hollerich is the unpreposessing home of Saudi Arabian prince Turki Bin Salman's new company Donavida. The co...
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : US taps Israel for help as Chinese AI continues to rise
The United States-Israel Artificial Intelligence Center Act (USIAIC) introduced to the House of Representatives by Democrat congressman Jake Auchincloss underscores a
UNITED STATES : Forward Risk moves into pro bono
Almost five years to the day after opening its doors, Forward Risk, the business intelligence firm founded by former Exiger
FRANCE : Construction-happy DGSE seeks building expert able to go the distance
The French secret service DGSE's construction projects are clearly ramping up a notch : on 14 September, it posted a vacancy
UNITED KINGDOM : Geollect develops intelligence fusion platform for UK special forces
According to our sources, Geollect signed a contract with the ministry of defence (MoD) on 13 September to create an
FRANCE/SINGAPORE : French cybersecurity startup Xrator sets up shop in Singapore
Singapore's ongoing cyber strategy rethink is attracting a growing number of companies to the country. Its Cyber Security Agency (CSA),
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Washington-financed internal counter-intelligence program entrusted to NGO
The SBU, Ukraine's internal intelligence service, launched a US-financed campaign on 20 September aimed at preventing foreign influence in the country's internal affairs. The campaign urges the g...
SWITZERLAND : Jihad Analytics tries to break into open source intelligence market
On 13 September, Swiss company Jihad Analytics joined the ranks of the companies using open source intelligence (OSINT) to monitor and
UKRAINE : Zelensky's former PR Yulia Mendel makes television comeback
On 19 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's former press secretary, Yulia Mendel, made her first appearance on "Real Politics with
BELARUS : Lukashenko Jr lands presidential security roles for hockey players
Nikolai Shkred replaced Sergey Migas as deputy head of the Belarusian presidential security service, the SBP, on 10 September, following
CHINA : Public Security's Run Technology speeds up big data push
Alongside Chinese giants such as Tencent and the cybersecurity firm Qi An Xin (IO, 26/02/20), Run Technology, affiliated to China's
JAPAN : Former national security adviser Shigeru Kitamura launches economic security consultancy
At a time when Japan, like much of the West, is looking to tighten security around its strategic industries, the
IRAN : Pasdaran strengthened by Raissi's intelligence services reform
Iran's new president Ebrahim Raissi (IO, 04/11/20), unfamiliar with the country's security world having spent his career in the judiciary, has begun restructuring Iran's sixteen intelligence and ...
UNITED STATES : Now a consultant, Douglas London settles score with CIA in book
Ex-CIA official Douglas London's The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence, hits bookstands on 28 September. The
UKRAINE/EUROPE : Mikheil Saakashvili champions Kiev's goals in Strasbourg
Mikheil Saakashvili spent the evening of 13 September in Strasbourg with Polish MEP Anna Fotyga. President of Georgia from 2004
IRAQ/IRAN : PDK-I in Iranian Pasdaran intelligence crosshairs
Closely monitored by the Pasdaran intelligence service, headed by Hossein Taeb, the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), exiled
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : IAI under pressure to break into the US market
In the last few weeks, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has made a number of management changes led by Boaz Levy,
FRANCE : Tehtris opens doors to fellow French cybersecurity operators
The Ecosystem partnership programme, launched ceremonially by French cyber security firm Tehtris on 7 September, marks the end of its
EUROPE : Athens in drone technology spree
Published between 7-15 September, the four Greek contracts under the MINOTAVROS programme, short for "Monitoring Equipment Investigation inter-National Operations Tobacco Smuggling and Anti-fraud...
CHINA : Li and Zhang tasked with supervising Xi Jinping's new disciplinary drive
The leaders of the groups which will supervise the vast disciplinary programme, which aims to remove politicians considered to be
FRANCE : Future head of intelligence services administrative watchdog sets out his vision
The nomination of Serge Lasvignes, who will be heard by parliamentary commissions today on his appointment as head of France's
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Russian Geographical Society sets up in Paris under the aegis of soft power experts
The new Paris centre of the powerful Russian Geographical Society (RGO) was officially opened on 6 September with a quiet
IRAQ/UNITED STATES : Jafar clan lands $250m finance from US development fund DFC
The Emirati consortium Pearl Petroleum, composed of the companies Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, has notched up another success in
FRANCE : DRM interested in Deveryware's telephony data analysis software
According to information gathered by Intelligence Online, the French military intelligence agency, the DRM (Direction du renseignement militaire) is interested
UNITED STATES : World Bank takes on new anticorruption investigators
The World Bank's annual report on combating fraud and corruption, due out in October, looks to be a dense volume, given how the Covid-19 pandemic chaos created opportunities for less than transpa...
SYRIA/FRANCE : Rifaat al-Assad wants out of Paris following embezzlement conviction
As Intelligence Online understands, members of the entourage of Rifaat al-Assad recently put up for sale a property he owns
UNITED KINGDOM : UK's golden spymaster generation exits to private sector
Peter Jones stepped down as chief operating officer at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which has responsibility for the Secret Intelligence
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-GCHQ technology chief Kempson assists Horizon Technologies' rise in interceptions
As part of a shift in scale the British interception (SIGINT) company Horizon Technologies is bidding to make, Niel Kempson,
TURKEY/SYRIA/IRAQ : Fidan and Mamlouk to thrash out Turkish-Syrian business in Baghdad
According to our sources, Ali Mamlouk, the head of Syria's National Security Bureau, and Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's
FRANCE : Military intelligence service hopes increased funding can help it connect better with business world
According to our sources, France's military intelligence service, the DRM (Direction du Renseignement Militaire) has obtained additional funding to strengthen
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Saudi investment minister heads to Paris while plans laid for visit by Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi investment minister Khaled Al Faleh, a former boss of Saudi Aramco, is expected in Paris on Wednesday 22 September. He
AUSTRIA/UKRAINE/GERMANY : Zinovy Kozitsky sells green hydrogen to Germany and Austria
The Slovak gas transporter Eustream announced its new membership of the H2EU+Store industrial partnership to deliver 'green' hydrogen to Central Europeon 9 September, teaming with Germany's Open ...
FRANCE : Sabre task force special forces prepare for difficult post-Barkhane period in the Sahel
As Operation Barkhane prepares to change its name, mandate, and see its manpower reduced from 5,100 to 2,500 over the
UNITED STATES : Commerce Department to set up own AI committee
The future National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), announced by the US Commerce Department on 8 September, will not be
UNITED KINGDOM : QinetiQ paints new page of GEOINT Picasso project
The UK's ministry of defence (MoD) has entrusted QinetiQ, a company born from the now-folded Defence Evaluation and Research Agency,
GERMANY : Shape of post-Merkel intelligence fuels debate in chancellor race
The role of Germany's intelligence services, often passed over lightly or simply ignored by the public or politicians, has become central ahead of the federal elections on 26 September. As well a...
AFGHANISTAN/RUSSIA : Alexander Malkevich and Maxim Shugaley export Kremlin's PR business to Kabul
The Foundation for National Values Protection (FZNC), created in 2019 by Russian television journalist Alexander Malkevich - an expert on
LEBANON : France uneasy with Hezbollah's energy-fuelled ambitions
Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah proudly announced on 13 September that the first shipment of Iranian fuel, which will be used
CHINA : Blockchain supplier Bianjie to work on UN digital infrastructure project
Blockchain technology firm Bianjie AI and DODR Technology, a subsidiary of China Silk Road Group (CSRG), a company at the
UNITED STATES/QATAR : Qatari defence minister to travel to US with arms procurement in mind
According to our information, Qatari defence minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah will travel to the South Carolina city of
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Israeli cyber firm Cobwebs weaves ties with US intelligence
Israel's Cobwebs Technologies (IO, 27/05/20) is poised to deliver its geolocation data collection and analysis solution WebLoc to the US
UNITED KINGDOM : Westminster pushes for measures against China's Hikvision
Surveillance camera maker Hikvision is in the hot seat in the United Kingdom as biometrics commissioner Fraser Sampson continues to
POLAND/RUSSIA : Polish intelligence services continue to blame Russia for rising cyber threats
In the 2020 report on cyber space security it published on 7 September, Poland's internal security service, the Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego (ABW), expresses concern about a major increase...
UNITED KINGDOM : New Century eyes European markets through subsidiary Pinpoint
On 7 September, the British Home Office, which oversees the Security Service (MI5), awarded contracts on its wide-ranging £133m (€156m)
UNITED KINGDOM : Oxford overtakes Cambridge at Hakluyt
When he founded Hakluyt, Christopher James, a former Special Air Service (SAS) officer who went on to join the Secret
FRANCE : Nuances Technologies in pole position to win prison anti-drone contract
The French Ministry of Justice has selected four finalists for its call for tenders to equip the country's prisons with
RUSSIA : How the Kremlin is relying on patriotic tech geeks to kickstart e-voting
Ahead of the 17-19 September elections for all 450 seats in the Duma, the Kremlin has been experimenting with remote
FRANCE : French senators look to foreign government commissions as part of review into Chinese influence at universities
A French Senate working committee on foreign influence in academia heard testimony on 7 September from James Paterson, chair of
UNITED STATES : GEOINT startup Theia's disgruntled supplier starts legal action
A regular supplier to the Pentagon, SRC Inc, a not for profit company affiliated to the University of Syracuse, New
EUROPE : ANSSI and BSI pave the way for European cyber certification
According to information gathered by Africa Intelligence, the French and German cyber security agencies, the Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information (ANSSI) and the Bundesam...
CHINA : China Center for Globalization helps Beijing attract foreign investment
At a forum on 4 September during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which is led by
FRANCE : Sciences Po Aix recruits former DGSE number two to teach intelligence master's degree course
For its second year of existence, the intelligence master's degree, set up at Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence by former Direction du Renseignement Militaire (DRM) operations
FRANCE : Start-up Serenicity quickly finds place in France's intelligence community
The French cyber security company Serenicity made a big impression at France's recent Forum International de la Cybersécurité with its
FRANCE/LEBANON : Jetex asked to settle Riad Salamé's "forgotten" cash-in-luggage problem with French police
As developments are awaited following the decision of Mount Lebanon prosecutor Ghada Aoun to prosecute Riad Salamé on 31 August, another less well-known incident involving the Bank of Lebanon go...
FRANCE : Erys Group caught up in investigation into private security arms breaches in New Caledonia
France's national private security council, the CNAPS, intends to ensure that the regulations governing the activities of security agents are respected
ISRAEL : Haifa's Chinese port unsettles Tel Aviv's allies
Haifa's new port, which was built and will be operated by Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) until at least 2046,
UNITED STATES : Bahaa Hariri appoints Washington lobbyist CT Group
Bahaa Hariri is increasingly positioning himself as the successor to his late father Rafic Hariri, particularly via his outspokenly critical
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN : Pakistan's ISI steers establishment of Taliban security and intelligence apparatus
Faiz Hameed, the powerful head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI, IO, 27/01/21), visited Kabul on 4 September, accompanied by top
ISRAEL/FRANCE : Firm headed by ex-Mossad boss seeks certification from France's cybersecurity agency
Cyber security company XM Cyber, which is chaired by former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, is seeking security certification from the French
FRANCE/NETHERLANDS/TURKMENISTAN : Turkmenistan gas spat comes back to haunt BNP in New York
Turkmenistan's state-owned gas company Turkmengas has begun a discovery proceeding, after a New York court approved its application on 24
UAE/RUSSIA : Mohamed bin Zayed's right-hand man heads to Moscow
According to our sources, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the all-powerful boss of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, is due to visit Moscow at the end of the month. As well as a handful of Kremlin...
JAPAN/RUSSIA : Russia uses intelligence archives to gain diplomatic advantage over Japan
The FSB's central archive service unveiled declassified records of the trial of 12 Japanese World War II soldiers at the
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : BNP forced to double down on anti-corruption efforts
According to our information, BNP Paribas has until the end of the month to launch a call for tenders to select
UKRAINE : Yevgeniy Yenin, Ukrainian interior ministry's intelligence asset
Ukraine's new interior minister Denys Monastyrskiy (IO, 20/07/21) has recently met with the versatile Yevgeniy Yenin, an experienced diplomat, appointed
LEBANON/SYRIA : Syrian Lebanese Higher Council reboots under Abbas Ibrahim's close eye
Head of the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim, the kingpin of Damascus' unofficial relations with Beirut (IO,
EUROPE/CHINA : CCUI eyed Italy for years before buying Alpi Aviation
One of the two Chinese companies involved the acquisition of a 75% stake in the Italian drone company Alpi Aviation,
UNITED STATES : Pentagon seeks fake news automated detection grail
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) awarded the "automatic detection" part of its Influence Campaign Awareness and Sensemaking
YEMEN/TURKEY : Ankara plans deployment of Syrian proxies in Yemen
As Turkey continues to establish its presence in Yemen (IO, 10/06/20), its intelligence service, the MIT, which is in charge of these operations, is now recruting and deploying Syrian proxies in ...
AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES/TAJIKISTAN : US diplomat John Ginkel keeps eye on Kabul from Dushanbe
Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon's phone has been ringing off the hook since Kabul's fall to the Taliban last month. The
GERMANY/UKRAINE : Maxim Chkil, the businessman opening roads between Berlin and Kyiv
Angela Merkel, who is determined to re-establish a better relationship with Kyiv, which remains uneasy on account of the Russian-German
CHINA : Shenzhen readies local groups to attract foreign partnerships
Shenzhen is calling on local organisations to help promote partnerships with foreign entities, as the city looks to give another
CHINA : Apple Funds backs China's future cyber stars
Apple Funds, which focuses on early-stage investment in China's cyber sector, marked another win when one of its companies, Tensor
UNITED STATES : Studebaker-Executive Outcomes forge US-South African alliance to rival Russia's Wagner
A US-South African private military partnership that will conduct everything from armed operations to psyops is currently being put together by Studebaker Group. The moves comes a time when strat...
UNITED KINGDOM : 17 Arm continues litigation funding path without Lord St John of Bletso
The Baron St John of Bletso, Anthony Tudor St John, whose boutique firm African Business Solutions assists companies looking for
INDIA/ISRAEL : Rafael rethinking its defence offset partnerships in India
Intelligence Online's sources say that Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is distancing itself from its long-standing partner in India, Bharat Forge
CHINA/UKRAINE : Kyiv lawyers do good business with the Chinese conglomerates
Ukrainian law firm SDM Partners, which joined the Chinese Trade Association (KTA) on 23 August, can reasonably expect to get
SYRIA : Biden's envoys visit North Eastern Syria to reassure Mazloum Abdi
To provide some reassurance to the Syrian Kurds, who fear for their safety in the wake of the US withdrawal,
FRANCE : Domestic intelligence prepares ground for satellite interceptions
The French internal intelligence service, the DGSI (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure), is preparing to conduct satellite communications interceptions
FRANCE : Emerging French Tech champions battle for the DGSI's big data contract
IT engineering services company Onepoint has succeeded in getting into the pool of companies which are being tested by the
EUROPE : Italy's Cy4gate aims for leadership of national interceptions market come hell or high water
Italian cyber intelligence company Cy4gate, which is looking to become Italian market leader, is still trying to take control of fellow Italian legal interceptions specialist RCS Lab as it pursue...
CHINA/FRANCE : ParisTech partners with PLA-affiliated university amid growing French scrutiny
The new partnership announced on 30 August between ParisTech, a grouping of France's top engineering schools, and China's Xi'an Jiaotong
IRAN/UNITED STATES/OMAN : US prepared to throw vital Omani port off balance to counter Iran
On 13 August, amid a standstill in its talks over the Iranian nuclear deal, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
UNITED KINGDOM : Accenture develops information warfare platform for UK defence ministry
On e 24 août, le The Ministry of Defense (MoD) awarded a £1m contract to Accenture on 24 August to
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES : Israel's D-Fend sacks North America director as its star rises in US
The website of D-Fend Solutions no longer makes any mention of Terry DiVittorio, who only joined the Israeli anti-drone company
AFGHANISTAN : Armed security companies prepare for the start of a new era in Kabul
Until 30 August, the security companies followed the embassies and international bodies they were protecting out of Afghanistan or stayed behind with a much reduced presence. Amarante Internation...
CHINA/FRANCE/IRAQ : TotalEnergies faces Chinese competition in Iraqi solar energy market
French president Emmanuel Macron, who visited Iraq on 28 and 29 August (IO, 24/08/21) chose the members of his delegation with
UNITED STATES : Data analytics firm Thresher to testify before US-China commission
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission's (USCC) hearing on 8 September on new risks related to China will includy
ISRAEL : Ex-Merlinx tempt fresh start in cyber with Cyence
Still moving around social media in stealth mode, the Israeli cybersecurity company Cyence is gearing up to launch its products
YEMEN : SAS sent to Yemen to keep Iranian maritime activity in check
After much debate in London - and the discreet encouragement of US Central Command (CENTCOM) - Britain finally agreed to
LEBANON/BELARUS : Abdo Romeo Abdo, the Lebanese businessman housing Minsk's elite
The ups and downs of the Minsk Transit Bank (or MTBank) sale are being closely monitored by the European Union and the
QATAR/AFGHANISTAN : Qatar Airways keen to operate commercial flights to Kabul
After being named airline of the year in 2021, Qatar Airways, headed by Akbar Al Baker, is bidding to distinguish
ISRAEL/FRANCE/VIETNAM : IAI beats Airbus and Thales to Vietnamese spy satellite deal
Intelligence Online's sources say Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong, the recently reelected general secretary of the country's communist party, has decided to order a military observation satell...
IRAQ : Lahur Talabani grips on to Sulaymaniyah stronghold
Bafel Talabani's brother and deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, met with French President Emmanuel Macron,
UNITED STATES : NGA moves into economic intelligence gathering
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is expanding its use of space imagery analysis to monitor major location-based economic trends, selecting
UNITED STATES : X8, discreet ally of US Cyber Command
In launching a campaign to hire the best hackers who worked with the NSA and US Cyber Command, the low-profile
RUSSIA : Spymasters help Yevgeny Primakov Jr with Russian World charm offensive
The deal signed on 30 August in Moscow by Yevgeny Primakov Jr, director of the federal agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Rossotrudnitchestvo (IO, 07/04/21), and Vladislav Gasumyan...
UNITED STATES : Risk management firm Valens Global hand-in-hand with neocon think tank FDD
US security consulting firm Valens Global took on two analysts from the interventionist Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of
UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN : DynCorp's string of legal woes continues
ACCL International, a subcontractor to the US defence services company Dyncorp in Afghanistan, lost a legal bid to challenge its
EUROPE : Rangers SRL to be the EU's guardian angel at the Vatican
Rangers SRL, a company set up by former Carabinieri Gianni Spinelli and now owned by Italian security concern Gruppo Battistolli, signed a
FRANCE : World War II bombs halt Commando Hubert in its tracks
The French defence ministry published a tender on 5 August that is related to the demining of land on the
TAIWAN : TSMC and submarine cables among priorities in Taiwan's economic security strategy
The security talks between Taiwan and Japan, held virtually on 27 August and the first of their kind, signaled Taiwan's
QATAR/AFGHANISTAN : Doha keeps mediator role despite intelligence failures on Taliban
The co-founder of the Taliban and de facto foreign minister Abdul Ghani Baradar made his triumphant return to Kabul on
UKRAINE : For its 30 years of independence, Kiev gives itself cybertroops and a foreign policy strategy
Ukraine's independence celebrations were barely over when President Volodymyr Zelensky rounded off his marathon week - that involved an interview with Angela Merkel on 22 August, the internationa...
UNITED STATES : Following the sale of Novetta, Carlyle starts building up Two Six Technologies into a new market leader
Two Six Technologies' announcement on 24 August that it had bought fellow US company Trusted Concepts marked the return of American
EUROPE : Norwegian state funds turn to UK private investigators
Announcing the results of its latest tender on 20 August, Norway's central bank Norges Bank will be calling on, in addition
UNITED KINGDOM : G3 suits up before taking on New York
After putting its books back in order, Nick Alcock and Michael Bevan, the co-directors of British intelligence consultancy Good Governance Group
EUROPE/CHINA : Hangzhou Dianzi University helps lead Beijing's hunt for European AI expertise
Austria is launching a joint artificial intelligence research facility with China, even as partnerships between Chinese and Western research institutions
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Rosatom and Gazprom talk hydrogen in Paris
Africa Intelligence understands that the first Franco-Russian hydrogen forum is due to take place on 2 December, on the same
FRANCE : Nexa hands French tools over to Elektron after indictment
Since their indictment in late June, Nexa Technologies executives Stéphane Salies and Olivier Bohbot used the French summer months to
ISRAEL : Cyber firm Rayzone makes defensive shift as Toka gets offensive
Israeli cyberintelligence firm Rayzone Group is scheduled to give several presentations at ISS World Europe in Prague on 7-9 December including one on its cybersecurity branch Rayzsecurity. The d...
UAE/TURKEY : Intelligence action behind Turkey-UAE rapprochement
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unprecedented meeting with the UAE national security advisor Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Ankara on 18 August can
RUSSIA/QATAR : Qatar's special forces train in Moscow for next year's football World Cup
In between visits to the International Military-Technical Forum "Army 2021", which took place in the Moscow region from 22 to
LEBANON : Russia's Stroytransgaz harries US energy rescue plan for Lebanon
With Lebanon on the brink of an electricity disaster (IO, 24/08/21) and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's announcement on 19 August that
EUROPE : Tekever and CLS strengthen their presence in EU maritime surveillance
The success of the REACT consortium, composed of Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever and French geolocation company (GEOINT) company CLS (Collecte Localisation
UNITED KINGDOM : UK's counter state threats bill worries investigators and lobbyists alike
All eyes from the corporate intelligence and influence sector have been on a consultation run by the Home Office's Homeland Security Group (formerly the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism)...
UKRAINE : The Kolomoisky clan takes its ease on the Swiss Riviera as Privatbank's US lawsuit is put on hold
On 23 August, a New York court suggesed to pause the legal action brought by Privatbank against its two former owners, Igor
RUSSIA : The battle over the Golubovich family's "Yukos" art collection to stay before the London courts
The divorce between former Yukos executive Alexey Golubovich, who now heads Arbat Capital, and Olga Mirimskaya, head of Russian agri-food
FRANCE : With Pasinetti gone, Thales ushers in security and intelligence reforms
Towards the end of July, at the Thales headquarters in the Paris suburb of Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), a sober leaving party
HONG KONG/CHINA : Hong Kong police still rocky after Choi scandal
Months after being caught up in a police investigation that revealed his visits to a massage parlour, Frederic Choi Chin-pang,
AFGHANISTAN : MTN wants out of Afghan chaos after Syrian blister
Having only just managed to drag itself away from the troubles in Syria on 12 August (IO, 16/03/21), South African telecommunications
ISRAEL : Cognyte takes over Verint's cryptocurrency investigation business
Cognyte, a spin-off from Israel's Verint group which specialises in cyber intelligence, will make a presentation on the deanonymization of cryptocurrency
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Max Polyakov, the man behind Ukraine-US space cooperation
The celebrations of Ukraine's 30 years of independence on 24 August will be embodied by the launch in December of the remote sensing satellite Sich 2-1, renamed Sich 2-30 for the occasion. This s...
SYRIA : Military and air force intelligence services at daggers drawn in the south
The clashes which broke out in the Deraa region in the southern part of the country this summer, which were
RUSSIA : Putin reaffirms trust in Alexander Linerts by keeping him on as head of GUSP
On 19 August, Vladimir Putin, always eager to keep his most promising silovikis close at hand (IO, 28/07/21), has showed
UNITED STATES : Under pressure from DoJ, cryptocurrency sector beefs up financial intelligence
Following its announcement of a partnership with the corporate intelligence firm K2 Integrity, formerly K2 Intelligence, on 12 August, Diem
CHINA : Cybersecurity firm Tophant gets backing from state defence group CETC
Cybersecurity firm Tophant, a partner to various cyber bodies affiliated with China's intelligence agencies, got a state-approved boost on 16
FRANCE : DRM favourite Toujouse's wings clipped by presidential veto
Bertrand Toujouse's recent sidelining from the leadership of the French military intelligence service, the DRM (Direction du Renseignement Militaire), which Intelligence Online revealed earlier t...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : French defence minister Florence Parly and DGA sued in US over French economic security decisions
The Swiss investment bank Aldini AG, a minority shareholder that opposed the sale of the bankrupt Dolphin Integration, a company
HONG KONG : Beijing's VIE crackdown a boost for Hong Kong corporate intelligence firms
Beijing's crackdown on variable interest entities (VIEs), a structure that allows foreign investment in Chinese companies, has given a welcome
UNITED KINGDOM : Rowden Technologies scoops contracts with British defence
The British Ministry of Defence's decision to award a contract to design and develop a dismounted situational awareness system to
UKRAINE/SWITZERLAND : Tracked by Kyiv, Kolomosiky clan cuts exposure in Switzerland
The young Lucerne financial company Nacala Worldwide has announced that the sale of investment holding company Gehold's EEII (Eastern Energy &
AFGHANISTAN/SAUDI ARABIA/PAKISTAN : After fall of Kabul, Riyadh takes prudent approach to talks with Taliban
In the wake of developments in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia has chosen a middle path between keeping the US happy and
UKRAINE : Indian agent Dogra eyes UAE-Ukrainian drone double-whammy
Turkish defence company Baykar Makina's newly unveiled plans to build a drone research and production facility in Ukraine are part
ISRAEL : Ex-Mossad chief Danny Yatom gets into offensive online electioneering at CIY Global
The new political order in Israel following Naftali Bennett's appointment as prime minister in June has momentarily distanced Danny Yatom, the former head of Mossad, from the halls of power. Yato...
UNITED STATES : NGA fights in Congress to retain GEOINT acquisition influence
The Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for 2022, introduced to the Senate on 4 August, raises the issue of how space
AFGHANISTAN/TURKEY : Ankara maintains Afghan ambitions despite Taliban takeover
Turkey might have been expected to rethink its ambitions in Afghanistan given the Taliban's rapid sweeping to power. But Ankara
UNITED STATES : US Cyber Command-NSA split back up for review in Congress
The Intelligence Authorization Act for 2022, placed on the Senate calendar in early August, quietly revives the debate on the
ISRAEL : NSO forges ahead with IPO plans
Under CEO Shalev Hulio's watchful eye, NSO Group's communications and financial departments have had a busy summer. While the company's PR officials spent their time limiting the fallout from the...
EUROPE : Norwegian parliament uses KPMG as private cybercrime investigator
On 13 August, KPMG Norway won a public call for tenders launched in May by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting,
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Riyadh explores sovereign cloud options with Paris
Within a few days of Saudi foreign minister and defence industry businessman Faisal bin Farhan Al Saoud's trip to Paris
QATAR/UNITED KINGDOM : UAE-Qatar battle for influence online and in court
After lying idle since 31 August 2019, the anti-Doha Qatarileaks website jumped back into action this month. This time its
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Congress ready to spend big on China intelligence
The US intelligence community will be tasked with improving its capacity to anticipate action from China targeting Taiwan and to
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Ukrainian Trident Defence's Trojan horse Noology enters US market
The US firm Noology announced it was launching the commercialisation of its anti-drone system Spherical View Radar (SVR) on 18
ISRAEL/PALESTINE/QATAR : Ramallah's banking moguls turn backs on Qatari funds for fear of sanctions
The deal to transfer Qatari funds to more than 100,000 people in need in the Gaza Strip was saved by
RUSSIA : DIA suffers setback in Georgy Bedzhamov asset recovery case
The High Court in London handed down a ruling on 13 August that only went so far in favour of
ISRAEL/AFRICA/EUROPE : Zeev Zacharin still sought in Luxembourg over Gaydamak's missing millions
Israeli former IDF brigadier general turned businessman Zeev Zacharin is due to appear in court in Luxembourg on 14 October to answer charges of breach of trust, fraud, forgery and falsification....
KAZAKHSTAN/UNITED KINGDOM : Londongrad's consultants exposed by Kazakh socialite Nurgul Yertayeva's court case
A case brought by the consulting firm Farrer & Co against Nurgul Yertayeva has shed light on the people surrounding
SYRIA/FRANCE/IRAQ : Iraqi security chief Falih al-Fayyadh sent to Damas to soothe Bashar al-Assad's feelings
Baghdad's ruling elite has been in a state of high excitement since prime minister Moustafa Al Kazemi announced on 9
LEBANON/EGYPT : Egyptian intelligence approaches Hezbollah to protect Gaza ceasefire
On top of classified talks with Iran's intelligence ministry VAJA (IO, 21/07/21), Egypt's intelligence agency the Mukhabarat Al Amma, has now engaged
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA : Moscow puts pressure on Chisinau to renew deal with Gazprom
Moldova's new government, led by prime minister Natalia Gavrilita, took office on 6 August (IO, 18/05/21) in an event that
CHINA : Three Eyes Spirit helping build China's police cloud system
Three Eyes Spirit, which supplies a big data analysis platform to the Nanjing police, has launched its first funding round.
IRAQ/LEBANON : Baghdad and Beirut rush to select contractors for oil swap
With Lebanon's energy crisis worsening, the country is urgently looking to put into effect an oil deal with Iraq thrashed out in Baghdad on 24 July (IO, 05/07/21). The oil companies interested in...
UKRAINE : Zelensky reshapes its post-Avakov security apparatus
President Volodymyr Zelensky kept himself busy in July by making a large number of strategic line-up changes at the head
FRANCE : Director of military intelligence-to-be Bertrand Toujouse sidelined by Eric Vidaud
The turnabout was unexpected. Bertrand Toujouse, current deputy director of France's DRM military intelligence service, has been prevented by the
UAE : Abu Dhabi wants to take back control of strategic data centres
Abu Dhabi is no longer content to strengthen its cloud capacities by getting foreign firms such as China's Huawei to
ISRAEL : Labyrinth boasts of partnerships with leading private investigation firms
Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) firm Labyrinth's website has recently been updated with details of its partnerships with the traditional
FRANCE : Behind showcase Viginum, Colmi committee takes lead in French anti-fake news efforts
Last June, the French government announced the creation of a "service of vigilance and protection against foreign digital interference", Viginum, a national agency tasked with fighting foreign ef...
AUSTRALIA/FRANCE : Naval Group taps another lobbyist in attempt to allay submarine deal concerns
Naval Group has hired another lobbyist in Australia, its third since the start of the year, as the company scrambles
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Veracity to boost London operations with Tamara Makarenko
New York-based business intelligence group Veracity has hired Tamara Makarenko, a leading figure in the British business intelligence sector. For
UNITED KINGDOM : Inter-Con snatches UK embassy in Mexico security contract from G4S
British authorities announced on 16 July that they had awarded a £690,000 contract to Inter-Con Security Systems to provide security
AFGHANISTAN/IRAN : Tehran opts for pragmatic alliance between Taliban and Hazara
After much debate, the Iranian government has decided to maintain its passivity in the face of the Taliban's territorial gains
ARMENIA/RUSSIA/CENTRAL ASIA/BELARUS : CIS launches financial intelligence operation 'Orion'
The Council of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units of the Member States (SRPFR) of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
UKRAINE : Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv interested in Ukraine's plans to use nuclear facilities to mine Bitcoin
The United Arab Emirates' Group 42 has expressed interest in Kiev's plans to build sovereign big data centres, according to our sources. The facilities would be used to store sovereign files as w...
UNITED KINGDOM : Former civil service chief Manzoni assumes nuclear chairmanship
John Manzoni, former director of the British civil service and ex-BP vice-president, has been appointed chairman of AWE - the
RUSSIA : Marat Kabaev, Putin's discreetly influential 'father-in-law', does Russia's bidding in Central Asia
Among the businesspeople and politicians who will attend the "Russia-Islamic World" international economic forum in Kazan, capital of the semi-autonomous
SYRIA/IRAN/PAKISTAN : Pakistani intelligence worries about its returning Shiite fighters, demobilised by Tehran
A delegation of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI - IO, 20/05/21) has returned from Tehran where it met with Ali
CHINA : Sugon taps into supercomputers for smart city surveillance
The supercomputer maker Sugon has signed a deal on 19 July to develop smart cities with the Beijing-based Zhongguancun Science
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Moscow looks for second wind amid Donbass troubles
The "Unity of Priorities" forum, organised jointly by the United Russia party and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on
UNITED STATES : Congress looks to streamline intelligence agencies' satellite imagery procurements
The House Committee on Appropriations expressed concern about potential overlap in satellite imagery procurements in its report, published 15 July, on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act...
SOUTH AMERICA/ISRAEL : Defentek wants to fly solo in South America
Panama-based cyber intelligence company Defentek wants to operate on its own in Latin America, according to our sources. The firm,
UKRAINE : Igor Kolomoisky fears for his Ukrainian and Russian assets with PrivatBank onslaught
When questioned by the press after the National Security and Defence Council (RBNO) announced its fresh batch of sanctions on
UNITED STATES : JS Held picks up BRG investigators
John Auerbach's recent appointment as managing director of business intelligence firm Nardello & Co is the latest in a string
RUSSIA : Former FSB officer Sergey Eliseev to serve as Kaliningrad deputy chairman
Though Vladimir Putin submitted his bill to the Duma on 20 July that would allow top officers to remain in their posts
AFRICA/FRANCE : N'Djamena keeps businessmen at bay with assistance from allied intelligence agencies
Businessman Kamal Benali (IO, 27/10/20), who has a fondness for selfies with VIPs, attempted to visit N'Djamena in mid-July, according
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : US cyber forensics firm Grayshift plants flag in UK
The mobile phone forensics firm Grayshift recently wooed Paul Baxter away from Sweden's MSAB in London. Baxter, who will head
UNITED KINGDOM : Planned Middle East group COMENA sparks Tory discord
The creation of the Conservative Friends of Middle East and North Africa (COMENA), which aims to "disseminate better knowledge and understanding of the MENA region to the party and the UK governm...
LEBANON/UNITED KINGDOM : Siren Associates, linchpin of UK's security cooperation work, lands new deal in Lebanon
Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office drew £15m from its Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to provide support for Lebanon's
UNITED STATES : Congress looks to set up White House disinformation unit
The US Congress, which is already backing efforts at the State Department and the Office of the Director of National
RUSSIA/FRANCE : Sputnik V vaccine causes headache for French ambassador in Russia
While flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Paris and Nice resumed on 24 July, Covid-19 continues to disrupt Franco-Russian relations. The
SYRIA : Telecom operator Syriatel ousts Rami Makhlouf, starts afresh with Damascus
Just weeks after Syria's second largest telecommunications group Syriatel ousted President Bashar al-Assad's once influential cousin, Rami Makhlouf, the company's
UNITED KINGDOM : British OSINT provider X Cyber gains steady stream of backers
Business continues to grow for the small cyber intelligence consulting firm X Cyber Group. Its financial statements, published last mont,
EGYPT/FRANCE : France's Vicat tangles with Egypt's military by filing for arbitration
The French cement company Vicat has gone to the World Bank's International Court for Settlement of Investor Disputes (ICSID) in hopes of reestablishing its right to remain the majority shareholde...
FRANCE/AFRICA : Ziad Takieddine's 'fixer' tells police of ambitions to lobby for Haftar with Avisa avec Avisa
In Africa, Noël Dubus dons almost as many hats as he has contacts: going from diplomat, soldier or police officer
UNITED KINGDOM/FRANCE : Storyzy hunts fake news for UK foreign office
The UK's Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) awarded a contract to Parisian startup Storyzy on 9 July to provide
FRANCE : French financial prosecutor tries to save international corruption cases from justice minister's reforms
French state financial prosecutor Jean-François Bohnert recently sent a letter to Olivier Christen director of the ministry of justice's criminal
CHINA/CANADA/UNITED STATES : Satellogic eyes contracts in Canada after US SPAC deal
Observation satellite operator Satellogic, which recently merged with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) CF Acquisition Corp V in the United
FRANCE : France pushes for more intelligence-sharing in Indo-Pacific
France is looking to further bolster its position in the Indo-Pacific by deepening information and intelligence-sharing with its main partners
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/INDONESIA : Indonesian defense set to visit Washington to discuss arms deals
Indonesian defense minister Prabowo Subianto will, according to our sources, soon travel to the United States to meet with representatives
FRANCE/SYRIA : Syrian Kurds look to Macron for support as Russia steps up pressure
Representatives of the so-called Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which oversees a Syrian region with a majority Kurd population, controlled by different factions led by...
RUSSIA : Konstantin Zatulin courts compatriots abroad with new bill
While Vladimir Putin's essay "On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians" published on 13 July may have provoked strong reactions,
UNITED KINGDOM : Space industry awaits British contracts with bated breath
Britain's parliamentary defence commitee spoke to space consultant Mark Presley on 13 July about the security aspects of Britain's space
FRANCE : Aleph builds network analytics tool for French military intelligence
In April 2020, France's military procurement agency, the DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement), and the French defence innovation agency AID
UNITED KINGDOM : Britain's HMGCC looks to serve as bulwark against Beijing
A China expert is poised to take over as director of Her Majesty's Government Communications Centre (HMGCC), according to our sources. The HMGCC's 600 staff secure the government's communications...
FRANCE : Crociani saga returns to European Court of Human Rights
Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, née Crociani and wife of the heir to the throne of Naples, has made
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Washington blacklists facing increasing court challenges from Chinese companies
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is responsible for limiting Chinese companies' access to US markets
CHINA/FRANCE : China pushes Xinjiang narrative in French regions
A video-conference organised on 9 July by the Chinese embassy in France sought to further push Beijing's narrative on Xinjiang
RUSSIA : Viktor Zolotov secures new responsibilities for National Guard in Crimea
The Rosgvardia, the Russian federal National Guard, responsible for internal affairs, is holding its large-scale warm-up throughout the month ahead
SAUDI ARABIA/OMAN : Al Naamani at work behind the scenes at Omani-Saudi Arabian summit
The details of the highly productive visit made by the Sultan of Oman, Hatham bin Tariq Al Said, to Neom
UNITED STATES : Polysentry to supply data analysis to US Air Force
Details of a new US Air Force contract for the development of systems to integrate data from different sources -
SWITZERLAND/UNITED KINGDOM : ZeNPulsar enters fake news fight with help from Kalita Partners
While the UN Human Rights Council addressed the issues involved in the fight against disinformation at its 47th session following
ISRAEL/UKRAINE : Rayzone and ULTRA challenged by crosswinds in Ukraine
The SBU, forced to reframe its missions, has hired Israeli intelligence firms Rayzone Group and ULTRA as part of its efforts to counter hybrid warfare, according to our sources. The Ukrainian int...
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : DoJ will not help former Saudi spymaster Al Jabri
The possibility earlier this month that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) might get involved in the trials against former Saudi
JORDAN : Former Blackwater PR rallies support for Bassem Awadallah in Washington
In a carefully-staged scene, minor royal Sharif Hassan bin Zaid and senior Jordanian government official Bassem Awadallah (IO, 30/06/21) appeared in
CHINA : Ouke Cloud Chain to be Public Security's new crypto-investigator
Ouke Cloud Chain, a blockchain company, is reinforcing its ties with the security sector, announcing on 8 July that it
FRANCE : Cyrille Peguilhan forced out of Anticip and Risk&Co
LGT Capital Partners and Batipart, the two main shareholders of Anticip, a security company that bought its competitor Risk&Co in November 2019 (IO, 30/10/19),
IRAN/IRAQ/EGYPT : Egyptian spymaster Abbas Kamel discusses Egypt-Iraq rapprochement with Tehran
In a further sign of deepening relations between Egypt and Iraq (IO, 15/06/21), on 5 July the Egpytian trade minister
UNITED STATES/CHINA/UKRAINE : Kyiv's highways lead to both US and China
Vadim Rabinovich (IO, 24/06/21) and Yuri Boïko, both MPs of Viktor Medvedchuk's Russophile opposition party Opposition Platform - For Life (IO, 14/06/21), indicated their hopes
UNITED KINGDOM : New round between Gerrard and Azima in London court
At a case management conference (CMC) in the London High Court last week, the judge agreed to add the law firm Dechert and its former partner Neil Gerrard as defendants in businessman Farhad Azim...
UNITED KINGDOM : Foreign Affairs Committee wants to have a say in foreign investment oversight
The UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) is seeking a bigger role in monitoring foreign investment in strategic British assets,
TURKEY/UNITED STATES : Low-profile Turkish construction company Haz is top choice at US embassies
Although British businessman Kuddisi Can Il had some of his claims against his former associate Abdurrezak Yesilkaya dismissed on 9 July by
SINGAPORE/UNITED KINGDOM : Temasek's ISTARI backs cyber companies of former intelligence officers
By investing in the British cybersecurity data analytics company Prevalent AI, ISTARI Global, a subsidiary of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : Paris caught in UAE-Saudi Arabia power struggles over arts programmes
Simmering differences between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on an array of issues ranging from Yemen and Qatar to the price of oil came to a head at the beginning of this month, coinciding with delicate n...
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Minsk and Moscow look to hold Dmitry Mazepin at arm's length
The Russian Central Bank's announcement on 13 July that it will investigate "governance failings" ventured by ex-minority shareholders of the
UKRAINE : Resignation of powerful interior minister Avakov prompts concern in France for Kyiv defence contracts
On 15 July, the Ukraine parliament had no choice but to accept interior minister Arsen Avakov's request for resignation submitted
UNITED STATES/BELGIUM : Seris and G4S in difficulty after b... by US prosecution over NATO and Pentagon contracts in Belgium
The Belgian subsidiaries of Seris and G4S security groups were indicted in the United States on 30 June with conspiracy
FRANCE : The DGSE highlights its status as a fully integrated intelligence service
A week after the launch of the Internet site of France's DGSI internal intelligence service on 6 July, it is
FRANCE/AFGHANISTAN : French foreign ministry revises its game plan after Afghanistan withdrawal
French ambassador in Afghanistan David Martinon, who was convinced that the Taliban would quickly take control of Kabul, tried to
UAE/ALGERIA : Adcom's Emirati drones contract targeted by Algerian anti-corruption campaign
According to our information, the committal order issued against former defence minister Abdelhamid Ghriss on 13 July mainly concerns the
IRAQ : Intelligence apparatus at centre of Talabanis' internecine struggle
Bafel Talabani, the co-chairman of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and his brother Qubad Talabani - the deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) - sons of the late ...
UKRAINE : Committee poised to appoint Ukraine's new economic intelligence chief
The race is on to appoint the first chief of Ukraine's new Bureau of Economic Security (BES or BEB), which
FRANCE : Entertainer Dronisos breeds drone swarms for French commandos
Dronisos' drone light show closed the first day of the Sofins military trade show at the Souge miltary camp on
TURKEY/KYRGYZSTAN : Turkey's MIT sends team to Bishkek to carry out its latest anti-Gülen operation
Turkish intelligence service MIT and its head Hakan Fidan are continuing to track supposed supporters of Imam Fethullah Gülen (IO, 24/05/21), both in Turkey, where they have been accused of fome...
UNITED STATES : USAID's anti-Russian influence frontman Brock Bierman joins German Marshall Fund
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS) published ex-consultant Brock Bierman's first article on 30 June on the
FRANCE : DGSE looking for thick-skinned cyber experts
A job advertisement for an engineer in cyber warfare systems development, which was placed last week by the technical directorate
JAPAN : Japan toughens cyber strategy to better counter China
Japan named China as one of the country's biggest cyber threats in its new cybersecurity strategy, published on 8 July.
FRANCE : French commandos drop interminable parachute programme
French Navy and Air Force special forces, who operate for special forces command COS (Commandement des Opérations Spéciales) and military
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : British military to automate signals interception processing through Combine project
Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a contract some weeks ago to SRC UK, the British branch of US defense
CAMBODIA/UNITED STATES/CHINA : Washington increasingly worried about Chinese influence in Cambodia
An appropriations bill for US operations abroad, introduced by Democratic representative Barbara Lee on 6 July, underscores Washington's growing concern
RUSSIA/SERBIA/EUROPE : Moscow, Brussels and Beijing battle for influence in Serbia
SVR chief Sergey Naryshkin made a timely two-day visit to Belgrade earlier this month, a few weeks after a Russian
ISRAEL : Zvi Yosef, Israeli defence companies' go-to agent in Sri Lanka
A $50m contract signed with the Sri Lankan defence ministry in early July by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) marked the return
ISRAEL : Toka partnership takes Commugen into government cybermarket
Thanks to its new partnership with cyber governance and risk management firm Commugen, cyber consulting company Toka has retained its
CANADA/EUROPE : Canada's PAL Aerospace gets foothold in European ISR
According to our sources, the Canadian airborne Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) company PAL Aerospace has qualified to supply long distance air surveillance to the European bord...
FRANCE/LEBANON : SGBL loses legal battle with sanctioned magnate Fadi Nasser's son
The son - as discovered by Intelligence Online - of Lebanese magnate Fadi Nasser, who heads the Beirut-based Nasco Polymer,
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Satellogic seals divorce from Beijing with its SPAC
Satellogic's merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) CF Acquisition Corp V, announced on 6 July, will allow the Uruguayan-Argentinian
UNITED KINGDOM : Former top Downing Street mandarin Sedwill joins firm advising Singapore's Temasek
Mark Sedwill, who served as both Theresa May and Boris Johnson's cabinet secretary, and also became national security adviser under
AFGHANISTAN/RUSSIA/TURKEY : Ankara and Moscow jockey for position in Kabul after US withdrawal
After the quiet departure of the US forces from Bagram, their main base in Afghanistan, on 1 July, announced by
UAE/YEMEN : The UAE aims to win over "hearts and minds" in Socotra
The United Arab Emirates, which wants to expand its presence on the strategically located island of Socotra in the Bab
CHINA : Tianheng Quantum typifies China's double-edged approach to quantum research
Tianheng Quantum Technology is expanding its commercial presence with a new partnership, signed 2 July, with marketing platform Xiamen Jiujiuyi
ISRAEL : Founders of OSINT specialist BLER SYSTEMS embark on new adventures with Forenza and Espy
Young Israeli open source intelligence (OSINT) company Espy, which presented its products at the recent ISS World Middle East trade
UNITED STATES/TURKEY : Wallace's Turkish Democracy Project bears Kaplan's hallmark
Barely a month after its launch, the US pressure group Turkish Democracy Project (TDP), haeded by former former US ambassador to the UN Mark Wallace, has drawn a barrage of criticism in Turkey's ...
UNITED KINGDOM : Journalist Omar Radi accused by Moroccan intelligence of spying after working for G3
On 6 July, journalist Omar Radi challenged the accusations of spying which have led to him being held in custody
CHINA : People's Armed Police commander Wang Chunning takes up seat at head of Party's discipline campaign
People's Armed Police (PAP) commander Wang Chunning will have an eye on China's latest discipline campaign as a member of the
UNITED STATES : Planet's SPAC deal reveals the scale of the challenges it faces
After announcing on 7 July that it hopes to achieve a $2.8bn valuation through its merger with special purpose acquisition
RUSSIA/FRANCE : Putin's modest 'Russian champagne' gift to allies Boris Titov and Yuri Kovalchuk
Shares of Russia's largest "shampanskoye" producer, Abrau-Durso, surged on 5 July when the Moscow stock exchange opened. The sudden rise
ALBANIA/EUROPE : Albania's EU-funded border protection programme goes to Lebanese, US, Bulgarian and Slovenian companies
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development's burst of activity in its core south eastern European zone in recent weeks
SYRIA : Houssam Qaterji makes bigger splash in Syrian oil
Houssam Qaterji, a Syrian businessman close to President Bashar Al Assad known for his ability to weave his way between
FRANCE : Thales has room to manoeuvre to land French interceptions platform contract
The main contracts to equip the French justice ministry's new interceptions platform, the SITENJ (Système d'Information des Techniques d'Enquêtes Numériques
SAUDI ARABIA : Dar Massader positions itself as UK's special defence partner in Riyadh
Despite British foreign minister Dominic Raab's flying visit to Riyad to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in June, the British government is tightening the screws on exports of militar...
FRANCE : French parliament struggles to reach intelligence bill compromise
MPs and senators, meeting in a joint committee on Friday, have failed to agree on a compromise text on the
ISRAEL : After Netanyahu, Israeli intelligence ponders best approach on Iran
They have only recently taken up their new positions but Mossad chief (IO du 21/05/21) David Barnea and Aharon Haliva,
FRANCE : French public spending watchdog calls for merger of gendarmerie and police domestic intelligence services
In a long report published on 30 June regarding the effects of the linkage of the French gendarmerie with the
UNITED STATES : Cyber false flag provider NetAbstraction aims to challenge Ntrepid's market domination
By recruiting Scott Greaux, former vice president for product management at US cyber security firm Cofense, Scott Greaux, American hidden
FRANCE : Sekoia seeks closer links with French public bodies by recruiting at national cybersecurity agency
In early July, François Deruty, head of operations at French national information systems security agency ANSSI and a french external intelligence service, DGSE,
RUSSIA : New national security strategy moves up a gear on "information confrontation"
Russian's new national security strategy (NSS), definitively approved by Vladimir Putin on 2 July, confirms the importance of information warfare in the future strategic confrontations expected b...
UNITED KINGDOM : Risk Advisory Group attempts Dragonfly metamorphosis
The Risk Advisory Group (TRAG) launched its Dragonfly Intelligence last week. The new service, which replaces TRAG's Security Intelligence &
FRANCE/CHINA : After UAE, Chinese strategic tech investor Kai-Fu Lee shifts attentions to France
Chinese AI investor Kai-Fu Lee has made his first investment in Europe, backing earlier this month the French machine vision
UNITED STATES/IRAQ/IRAN : Former spy Michael Pregent prospers as anti-Iran activist
In a civil court case in Washington DC on 24 June, the Iranian government was found guilty of the deaths
FRANCE/RUSSIA/GUINEA : Russian adviser with ties to Paris helps out Guinean prime minister
Guinean prime minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana has, as we understand, hired consultant Alexandra Kamenskaya to handle his communication policy both in Russia
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Geollect continues roll with British intelligence and military
Geollect, a British geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) newcomer mentored by GCHQ, has been picked by the ministry of defence to provide the
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Army of US consultants weigh in on Ukrainian privatisations
Ukrainian embassies have been hosting "expert discussions" to promote the investment opportunities opening up in the country thanks to the
SAUDI ARABIA/YEMEN : Riyadh's allies help it hold on to Marib
Intelligence Online's sources say Saudi Arabia recently received advice from Emirati and Pakistani military strategists (IO, 02/06/21) on how to resist the Houthi rebel offensive on Marib (IO, 24...
CHINA/JAPAN : Takeo Akiba to juggle escalating security concerns with China
Prime minister Yoshihide Suga's newly appointed national security advisor, Takeo Akiba, embodies the delicate new posture Japan is trying take on
UNITED STATES : Mobius Consulting to provide intelligence analysis to Missile Defense Agency
Mobius Consulting's contract to provide intelligence and counter-insider threat analysis to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced on 22 June,
MOLDOVA : Moldovan intelligence services caught in rivalry between pro-EU and pro-Russian camps
Continuing to shape the country's political and security administration in her own image, Moldova's new president Maia Sandu made the
CHINA : Guoanbu's latest think tank ramps up security talks
The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) centennial on 1 July was accompagnied by a flurry of discussions on national security. These
RUSSIA/UKRAINE : Yevgeni Yurchenko is the Donbass's new coal industry strongman
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been consulting in all directions in recent weeks in an attempt to find allies in
GERMANY : Utimaco also tempted by a stock exchange listing
German lawful interceptions specialist Utimaco is looking for ways to raise fresh funds, according to our information. It could bring new
AUSTRALIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Independent Diplomat to advise Pacific Islands on UN-led cyber process
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has recently contracted Independent Diplomat to implement its cyberdiplomacy in the United Nations. The British firm, founded by Carne R...
EGYPT : Kamel's visit to US signals closer ties between Egypt and Biden administration
Abbas Kamel, the head of the Mukhabarat Al Amma, Egypt's general intelligence service, visited Washington on 20-26 June in a
RUSSIA/LEBANON : Beirut's passivity to Capital's arrival shows inclination for Russian aid
As reported by Intelligence Online (IO, 03/05/21), the arrival of Russian company Capital (IO, 11/06/21) - presumed to have links
CHINA : Genius Cyber to consult on China's smart city projects
Cybersecurity consulting firm Genius Cyber Tech is setting its sights on smart city projects. The company partnered with Meiya Pico,
EUROPE : Founded by former Carabinieri, bitCorp consolidates its position in the Italian cyber intelligence market
Currently in the throes of a major restructuring, with talks currently in progress on a possible takeover of legal interceptions
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA : EY report helps Moscow property developer Terra Invest win discovery application in New York
On the basis of a report from EY and witness statements, a New York court admitted Russian property company Terra Invest's application for a discovery procedure on 23 June. The company, which is ...
SWITZERLAND : Gunvor's general counsel Leclercq spearheads response to anti-corruption probe
Jean-Baptiste Leclercq, the general counsel at Gunvor, is at the front line of the commodities trader's response to the launch
CHINA : Encryption company Zhongyitong Technology eyes IoT market after government security work
Zhongyitong Technology, an encryption company that works for for China's Ministry of Public Security, or Gonganbu, is looking to shift
RUSSIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Oligarchs go-to lawyer Alastair Tulloch's good actions not wanted in Moscow
The non-for-profit organisation Social Sciences Lab (SSL), which opened its offices in Moscow three years ago to provide scholarships and
EUROPE/RUSSIA : Maria Butina champions Vinnik's cause to Council of Europe
Russian parliamentary candidate Maria Butina, a former gun activist who was convicted of being an unregistered foreign agent in the
FRANCE/SYRIA : DGSE helps court pinpoint Syria's chemicals programme
In an unprecedented ruling issued in late May, the Paris administrative court of appeal legitimised the role played by French
EUROPE : EU cybersecurity agency maps out pan-European incident response procedures
The series of framework contracts published by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) on 28 June marks a new step
UAE : Al Sayegh, financial privateer to the Abu Dhabi crown prince
When in Chad on 15 June, Emirati businessman Abdul Jabbar Al Sayegh once again helped steer Abu Dhabi's policy in one of its regions of interest. According to our information, Abu Dhabi has opene...
IRAQ/LEBANON : Iraq-Lebanon oil deal stuck between a rock and a hard place
According to our sources, a deal to exchange Iraq fuel for Lebanese medical services or food products, negotiated by Lebanese
FRANCE/LEBANON : Paris keeps mum on list of sanctioned individuals
While Intelligence Online has been able to gather from the field in Beirut the names of the first individuals to
UAE/EUROPE : Italy-UAE standoff paralyses defence suppliers
Several Italian defence groups' export campaigns are reeling from Abu Dhabi's abrupt decision last week to order Rome to evacuate
FRANCE : French interior ministry opts for Nuances Technologies' anti-drone solution
French electronic warfare specialist Nuances Technologies has won a tender, launched two years ago by the interior ministry, to supply
FRANCE : Special forces provider interest group adds intelligence string to its bow
Organiser of the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (Sofins), held last week at the Souge military base near Bordeaux,
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Bruno Roger-Petit opens Elysee Palace door to pro-Russians
Bruno Roger-Petit, President Emmanuel Macron's adviser on memorials and historical events, received Vadim Rabinovich, the Ukrainian opposition MP and co-chairman of Ukraine's pro-Russian Oppositi...
UNITED KINGDOM : London wants to weigh in on UAE Interpol candidate selection
While in France, home to Interpol, there seems to be a growing push back against Abu Dhabi Gen. Ahmed Nasser Al
CHINA/FRANCE : France moves to oust Chinese investor Zhang Ruodan from its dual-use technologies
French security and defence nanotechnology company MC2 Technologies (Microwave Characterization Center Technologies) is poised to complete a new funding round,
UNITED STATES : New congressional task force pushes US hostage issue back to the fore
Arkansas Republican French Hill and Florida Democrat Ted Deutch hope their bipartisan Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and American
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Police national security director Frederic Choi kept out of top role
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's announcements on 25 June boil down to a string of promotions to place her security chiefs
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Progresstech in prime position to support Boeing's ambitions in Ukraine
The first roadmap for Ukraine's new strategy to develop its military industry, a plan close to the heart of the
UNITED KINGDOM/IRAQ : Adam Smith International roped in to help with Peshmerga reform
Thanks to a contract signed in early June with Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Adam Smith International (ASI) is
UAE/RUSSIA : Abu Dhabi makes noted investment in Deripaska's EN+
The US treasury department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was duly notified ahead of the surprise announcement last week that Mubadala, the Emirati state-owned sovereign wealth fund, h...
IRAQ : Pentagon concerned about Peshmerga's slow unification
Despite the announcement on 22 June that some of the Peshmerga forces commanded by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
UNITED KINGDOM/AFGHANISTAN : Charterers Chapman Freeborn and Air Partner to handle UK's Afghanistan withdrawal
Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a flurry of air transport contracts in recent weeks with the local freight
FRANCE/CHINA : Chinese defence institutions take interest in laser technology from Bordeaux region
A Bordeaux regional hub tasked with promoting local laser technology to foreign markets is going all out to ink deals
RUSSIA/FRANCE : Leroy Merlin probes Russian store director Mochalov
The compliance department of Leroy Merlin in Russia, attached to the financial department, is in a stir over the company's
AUSTRALIA : Dragos expands into Canberra's cyber protection
The US operational technology (OT) cyber security developer, Dragos, picked up its first contract with the Australian government on 25
UNITED STATES : Bug bounty platforms rethink US strategy on vulnerabilities
The US Improving Contractor Cybersecurity Bill, which was introduced by Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu earlier this month, aims to require government suppliers to maintain vulnerability disclosu...
UNITED STATES : SS8 moves into Internet traffic analytics with Bivio acquisition
SS8's decision to acquire the assets of Bivio Networks, announced on 11 June, marks a new stage in its diversification plans.
UNITED STATES : ERG predicts growth in financial operations in the business intelligence market
During the first five months of 2021, 15 financial operations took place in the business intelligence and security sector, compared
CHINA/PAKISTAN/MYANMAR : Salvation Data recovers data for China's security allies
The European Union announced on 21 June a third round of sanctions against the Burmese junta in response to the
FRANCE : Consors Intelligence first private investigation firm to adopt France's new ethical company status
Founded in 2011 by former Intelligence Online journalist Bertrand Charles and ex-defence ministry intelligence analyst Fabien Hospital, the corporate intelligence
JORDAN : GID plays key role in Hamza allies' sedition trial
In a trial that opened in Jordan last week, Jordan's powerful General Intelligence Directorate (GID) (IO, 27/04/21) was deployed to
FRANCE : Morgan Philips headhunts for French military intelligence
Bertrand Toujouse, who, as Intelligence Online announced in March, is shortly to become head of France's DRM military intelligence service
LEBANON : CMA CGM has big plans for Lebanon
Despite having transferred its Lebanese assets to France, as was revealed by our sister publication (La Lettre A, 10/05/21, in
GERMANY/UNITED KINGDOM : Bundestag report on Wirecard shines light once again on Arcanum
The Bundestag's 2026-page report into the Wirecard affair, published on 22 June, sheds light on the multiplicity of crisis consulting and private investigation contracts the payment processing co...
BULGARIA : Sacked intelligence chief under US sanctions calls out Russian influence
On 18 June Bulgarian president Rumen Radev issued a decree to cut short Atanas Atanasov's five-year term as head of the
EUROPEAN UNION/FRANCE/NATO : France weighs in on hybrid warfare debate in NATO
Paris wants both to shape the understanding of hybrid warfare and weigh in on the topic among its NATO allies.
INDONESIA/UNITED STATES : Indonesian defence minister appoints Qatar defense lobbyist in Washington to speed up defence deals
Indonesia's defence minister Prabowo Subianto hired Christopher Ott, of Ott, Bielitzki & O'Neill last week to smooth the way between
EUROPE : Italian interception specialist Memento Labs ventures into IMSI catching
Memento Labs (ex-Hacking Team) will have a completely new look when it takes part in ISS World Middle East in
SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE : ODAS contracts face scrutiny as part of Nexa probe
An investigation into alleged "consipracy to torture" by Nexa Technologies chiefs Stéphane Salies, Olivier Bohbot and Renaud Roques in connection with the supply of cybertools to Egypt in 2014 (...
AUSTRIA/BELARUS : Raiffeisen Bank reluctantly gets on board with EU sanctions against Minsk
After tough negotiations, Vienna finally gave in and accepted the package of sanctions put together by the European Union (EU)
CANADA/UKRAINE : GL Munitions targets Ukrainian market for Canadian ammunition
GL Munitions has hired David Angus, president of the Ottawa lobbying firm Capital Hill Group (CHG), as it looks to
UNITED STATES : Facebook digital wallet subsidiary hires financial intelligence specialists
Novi Financial, formerly Calibra, which was founded in June 2019 at the same time as cryptocurrency Diem, formerly Libra, recently
EUROPE/CHINA : Beijing Risk Control lands new contract to protect European diplomats
Security firm Beijing Risk Control has landed a new €1m contract to provide protection services to the European Union delegation
UNITED STATES/UKRAINE : Kyiv mirrors US blacklist but adds Pavel Fuks
Friday, 18 June, was a busy day for Oleksiy Danilov and Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) of which
LEBANON : Wassim Mansouri being lined up to succeed Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salamé
The pressure is mounting against the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL), Riad Salamé. As Intelligence Online reported
UAE/ISRAEL : Israeli darkweb probe expert Cybersixgill wants to expand into Gulf
The UAE cyber technology marketplace AmiViz announced on 18 June it has signed a deal with Cybersixgill to distribute the
UNITED STATES : New CIA espionage operations boss keeps watch over Middle East
David Marlowe's arrival as the CIA's new deputy director of operations, putting him in charge of all undercover missions, indicates a shift in the agency's posture in the Middle East, where the U...
RUSSIA/BELARUS : Dmitry Mazepin looking good in potash wars
The European Union's latest round of sanctions against people close to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, announced on 16 June (IO,
IRAQ : Tech4Peace, Iraq's Bellingcat
One of latest stories published by Canadian-registered nonprofit Tech4Peace is an investigation of the 7 June murder in central Baghdad
FRANCE : French army styles own counter-drone system
The first counter-drone system developed by the French army was deployed this month in the Sahel, where threats have so
UNITED KINGDOM : EncroChat and AN0M cases open breach in British interceptions law
In a discussion on 9 June, the House of Lords debated changing the law to enable intercepted communications to be
CHINA : Beijing influence arm China International Publishing Group (CIPG) expands footprint in Paris
The China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the state-owned publishing house that last year began distributing a magazine on France-China relations
EUROPE : Alpha Intelligence Capital invests in European and Chinese cyber intelligence
Alpha Intelligence Capital led a funding round for the Dutch cybersecurity artificial intelligence firm ReaQta on 19 May (AIC -
FRANCE : Amarante hired to secure domestic intelligence agency's new HQ as construction work begins
France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, has hired Amarante International to help secure the construction of its new headquarters in Saint-Ouen, a suburb just north of Paris, as the first...
CYPRUS/ISRAEL : Quadream and InReach slog it out in court even as business booms
Exposed earlier this month by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz for its operations in Saudi Arabia and Ghana, the consortium formed
FRANCE/UKRAINE : Ukrainian opposition MP Vadim Rabinovich pals up with French senators
This week, Ukrainian opposition MP Vadim Rabinovich, the co-chair of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform - For life (OPFL), visited the
BELARUS : Uneasy Lukashenko presses ahead with his reform of the national security council
On 11 June, Alexander Lukashenko signed a presidential decree confirming the changes he began marking a month earlier to the
CHINA : RealAI looks to boost Beijing's AI militarisation efforts
Chinese artificial intelligence company RealAI's new platform designed to carry out and respond to cyberattacks is ostensibly marketed to support
UNITED KINGDOM : With TBEST, UK intelligence agencies offer telecom companies to hack them
A late May parliamentary report on the UK's Telecommunications Security Bill indicates that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport,
FRANCE : Ex-Mossad boss's cyber group off to difficult start in France
The Israeli automated penetration test (pentest) specialist XM Cyber trying to break into the French market has come across the inescapable French distrust for foreign solutions, according to our...
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : David Brown, the man who walked out of Dmitry Firtash's French Riviera villa
The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has agreed to a set of sanctions against oligarch Dmitry Firtash,
SYRIA : US Treasury seeks magnate Samer Foz's new Dubai contacts
The Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took the surprise step of removing ASM International LLC and SilverPine, two Dubai-based
FRANCE : French government's anti-fake news agency hires multi-disciplinary team
France's defence and national security secreatriat, the SGDSN (Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Sécurité Nationale) began its
UNITED STATES : Washington seeks coordination between State Dept- and ODNI-backed centres on foreign influence
Congress is boosting the budget of the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC), tasked since 2016 with combating disinformation campaigns,
BULGARIA/UNITED STATES : US sanctions spurs Bulgaria's intelligence into action
In the build-up to the 11 July legislative elections, Bulgaria's interim government has promised to draw up its own "blacklist" of
UAE/SAUDI ARABIA : How ex-SAMI boss came to steer the UAE ambitions of Australia's EOS
In its financial statements published 28 May, Australian defence and space company EOS makes clear its intention to make the
UNITED STATES/TAIWAN : US' Offensive Security to help boost CHT Security's cyber defences
The partnership announced on 15 June between US cyber training company Offensive Security and CHT Security, a cyber subsidiary of
EUROPE/UKRAINE : Yanukovych clan's business empire MAKO breathes again after ECJ partially lifts EU sanctions
On 9 June, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg annulled a 2019 decision by the Council of the European
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-MI6 chief Alex Younger carves niche in private sector
Alex Younger, who served 30 years in Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, or MI6), heading it for six, before stepping down last year, marked his entrance into the private sector with a co...
CENTRAL EUROPE/CHINA : Chinese think tank lays down roots in central Europe
The second annual expo for China and central and eastern European countries (China-CEEC Expo) held earlier this month in Ningbo,
UNITED KINGDOM : The ongoing saga of Pakistan's asset recovery firm Broadsheet's litigation funder Richard Deitz
In the latest chapter of a long-running case between the asset recovery firm Broadsheet and the Pakistani government, on 9
UKRAINE : Kyiv still struggling to get up to speed in battle against fake news
As Volodymyr Zelensky was expressing, somewhat sharply, his doubts before the foreign media shortly before the meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on
QATAR : Ex-PM Hamad bin Jassim tempted to make a comeback
Speaking to the ruling Qatari family gathered on 6 June, former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (IO, 16/12/20), called
FRANCE : DGSE and DRSD turn blind eye to French military's Antonov leasing arrangements
The DGSE recently admitted that its remit does not include monitoring the Russian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, South African and Emirati firms
EUROPE/UAE : Spain's Mollitiam Industries eyes Gulf cyber contracts
The Spanish cyber-intelligence firm Mollitiam Industries (IO, 28/05/19) is poised to unveil its cyber-tools at the ISS World Middle East
SAHEL/FRANCE : UAE-Macedonian company Ecolog could soon cater to French special forces in the Sahel
Under the agreement signed between the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and NATO, as announced by the French General Staff of the Armed Forces on 14 June, the NATO Support and ProcurementAgenc...
UNITED STATES/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM : Wall Street's biggest...ate investigators settle their scores in battle over Universal
On 22 June, Vivendi's head office located at 42 avenue de Friedland in Paris's 8th arrondissment, is set to become
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Sibylline CEO takes over corporate intelligence syndicate
Justin Crump, founder of corporate intelligence company Sibylline (IO, 26/02/20), became president of the Association of International Risk Intelligence Professionals
FRANCE : Haurus trial offers glimpse into lifestyle of DGSI's legal division
During his trial last week, the DGSI brigadier who sold information from police files on the darknet under the codename Haurus (IO,
LEBANON : Abbas Ibrahim provides Biden's after-sales service in Moscow
It was significant that during his visit to Moscow on 16 June, the head of Lebanon's General Security Directorate, Abbas
RUSSIA : The Russian ramifications of Murtaza Lakhani's oil-finance empire
The state oil producer Rosneft, led by Vladimir Putin's close friend, Igor Sechin (IO, 07/04/21), has agreed to sell 5%
FRANCE : Sesame IT uses its interception know-how to break into the detection probe market
After having its Jizô detection probes qualified by the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) on 8 June, young French company
IRAQ/CHINA : China's Guoanbu gets busy in Erbil
According to our sources, China's State Security service, or Guoanbu, is making the most determined push in Iraqi Kurdistan since its arrival in the autonomous region in 2014. As elsewhere, the i...
EGYPT/FRANCE : Nexa executives charged over Egyptian intelligence contracts
After interviewing them last week, Parisian judge Stéphanie Tacheau has charged Nexa Technologies senior executives Stéphane Salies, Olivier Bohbot and Renaud Roques (IO, 16/12/20) for
ISRAEL : Alma centre offers platform for ex-intelligence agents to express their views
Right on time, the Israeli Alma Research and Education Center presented its study on alleged use of Shiite centres as
UNITED KINGDOM/MIDDLE EAST : Paul Tilley takes charge of PR for British component of anti-Daesh coalition
Paul Tilley and his Turkish-based company Innovation and Insight FZE (IN2-Comms) won a £840,000 ($1.2m) contract in early June from the British
UNITED STATES : NGA hires Pentagon R&D expert George Lukes as consultant
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has tapped defence expert George Lukes to consult on the agency's efforts to integrate various
RUSSIA : Shadow siloviki will monitor Rostec for Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on 7 June placing yet another siloviki - Yevgeny Shkolov - on the
CHINA : Xi'an to develop Belt and Road observation satellite constellation
The city of Xi'an, the historical starting point of the China's Silk Road and now a symbolic gateway to Beijing's
UNITED STATES : Google battles zero day brokers as much as zero days itself
Shane Huntley, director of Google's cyber threat intelligence division, the Threat Analysis Group, announced on 8 June that his team
RUSSIA/CHINA : Huawei hired top researchers from Russia's US-sanctioned NeoBit
The change of US administration has not affected US sanctions policy towards China and Russia, which continue to be targeted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). A fresh batch of some ...
RUSSIA/GERMANY : Ex-TASS journalist and energy expert takes on PR for EU in Moscow
Although the project continues to sharply divide opinion in Europe, efforts are being made to smoothe the way for the
UNITED KINGDOM : NCA intelligence budget cuts offset by boost to cyber
The main estimates memorandum 2021/22 for the National Crime Agency (NCA), published on 19 May, shows that the UK's organised crime
TURKEY : Ankara's spymasters squabble over best strategy against PKK
After the deaths on 2 June of thirteen soldiers in fighting against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, President Recep
UAE : Abu Dhabi tech companies Hub71 and G42 seek French expertise
According to our sources, French businessman Kacy Grine has joined the board of Abu Dhabi's giant tech incubator Hub71. Grine,
IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : After training Africa's civil servants, Crown Agents to lecture Iraqi military
In late May, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) announced that it had awarded a three-year military training contract
UNITED KINGDOM : Charles Blackmore sets his succession plan at Audere in motion
Business intelligence veteran Charles Blackmore is following in the footsteps of Jules Kroll. A little over a month ago, he
EUROPE : Italian interceptions market set to consolidate as IPS, RCS and Cy4Gate look for new horizons
With its 10 June announcement that it had set up a strategic partnership to prepare itself for the deployment of 5G, Italian lawful interception company IPS has confirmed that the Italian cyberin...
UAE : Forward Defense foils IMSI catchers with Tractero
The IT security firm Forward Defense will unveil its ISMI-catcher detection system Tactero at the ISS World Middle East law
LEBANON : Riad Salamé assets probe points to Bank Audi
While the French national financial prosecutor's office, the PNF, conducts its preliminary investigation into assets and property investments of the Bank
UNITED STATES : Black River Systems to develop SIGINT signals-sorting algorithms for Pentagon
Black River Systems (BRS) landed a key contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on 3 June to develop algorithms
UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Dmitry Firtash's lordly London connections
While Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky is tied up in having his "anti-oligarchs" bill passed in parliament after presenting it to
FRANCE : Franck Chauty turns to crisis management with PEARL Crisis Response
As it launches in a world emerging from the Covid-19 crisis, new French crisis management and training company PEARL Crisis
OMAN : Muscat resumes role in Yemen diplomacy
The Omani government sent a security and intelligence delegation to Sanaa on 5 June in a fresh sign of its
CHINA : Qingteng Technology mounts guard over the Chinese cloud
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's (MIIT) call in early June to reinforce 5G security was likely of
AFRICA/RUSSIA : The legal strategist for oligarchs Dmitry Vozianov has eyes on Africa
Dmitry Vozianov, whom Intelligence Online recently revealed as having an influential role in the case that opened in London on 24 May between ENRC - now Eurasian Resources Group, or ERG - and Nei...
SYRIA/QATAR/UNITED KINGDOM : Consultants heard in trial of suspected Qatari funding of Nusra Front
On 24 May, the High Court of London held its latest hearing in the case lodged by Syrian refugees living in
FRANCE/EGYPT : Marc Baréty appointed French ambassador in Cairo
In the wake of the recent appointment of Eric Chevallier as French ambassador in Baghdad (IO, 18/05/21), diplomat Marc Baréty
CHINA/UAE : US wary as China and UAE lean into security cooperation
The 8 June telephone conversation between the Chinese Minister of Public Security (Gonganbu) Zhao Kezhi and the UAE Minister of the Interior Saif
ISRAEL/AZERBAIJAN : Aeronautics' legal woes jeopardise Tel Aviv and Baku's honeymoon
On 10 June, Israel's ambassador George Deek announced that Israeli will help to build a flagship smart city in Zangilan,
ISRAEL : Israeli Operational Technologies Cyber Consortium federates former cyber-intelligence figures
Launched at the GISEC cybersecurity trade fair in Dubai 31 May - 2 June, Israeli Operational Technologies Cyber Consortium (IOTCC),
QATAR/SAUDI ARABIA/FRANCE/LEBANON : Nabil el Daher's Middle East contracts come back to haunt Airbus
Airbus Group's go-to lawyers at August Debouzy are preparing to attend a new hearing on 30 June in a Paris court into the company's struggle against Lebanese firm AD Venture. The name of the latt...
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : Steinmetz-Soros case held up by the absence of litigation funding
In the latest documents to be laid before the New York Southern District court hearing the case at the end
FRANCE : Aldini takes its battle against MBDA's takeover of chip manufacturer Dolphin to California
The discovery request lodged by lawyers at law firm Connon Wood on 2 June on behalf of Swiss bank Aldini
UNITED STATES : FTI Consulting's stratcom team reborn at Dentons Global Advisors
The new strategic and diplomatic consulting firm Dentons Global Advisors (DGA), launched on 2 June, resulting from the law firm
FRANCE : Rolland's eviction as territorial intelligence chief causes stir
There is much agitation in police circles about the likely nomination of Bertrand Chamoulaud as director of the French territorial
NETHERLANDS/EUROPE : Netherlands ramps up economic security
The AIVD, the Netherlands' external intelligence service, issued a warning both to companies and the general public about threats to
IRAQ : Small local firm "beauty of the world" to fuel GIs in Erbil
It is understood the small Iraqi firm Jamal al-Alam has managed to secure a slice of the contract to delivery
CANADA : Canada's IDEaS defence programme builds up its anti-fake news armoury
A C$1m contract awarded on 2 June to Xtract AI, a text and video analysis company, will further enable Canada's
FRANCE/UKRAINE : After SBU inquiry Medvedchuk clan rallies support from French senators
On 31 March, three French centrist senators travelled to Kiev to meet Vadim Rabinovich, media moghul, opposition MP and co-president of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform - For life (OPFL)...
JAPAN/UNITED STATES : SS8 affirms presence in Japan as Tokyo Olympics plans ramp up
According to our sources, the US lawful interceptions specialist SS8 has recently secured a flurry of contracts in Japan. The country
NEW ZEALAND/UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : Businessman Chri...rlin, the private investigator who accused him of Russian ties
In an opinion filed on 28 May, the US court of appeals for the district of Columbia circuit ruled in favour
UNITED STATES : Second Front Systems hires Michael Neumann to fast track public-private integration
Michael Neumann has left his role as director and chief data scientist with the CIA to join Second Front Systems
UNITED STATES : Lightstone Solutions, the gaming industry investigations firm staffed by former casino regulators
Lightstone Solutions recently began advertising training courses in regulatory compliance for investigators in the games of chances business, particularly among
SYRIA : Assad tightens grip on security apparatus with Alawite appointments
While the Syrian regime makes its comeback on the international scene (IO, 07/06/21), at home it is tightening the screws
FRANCE : French intelligence education "cluster" being developed in South of France
Intelligence seems to be an 'in' higher education subject these days (IO, 29/04/21) and the University of Toulon has added
RUSSIA/SYRIA : Damas gives ground on offshore gas to Russia's Capital group
The details of the 167-page contract concluded by Syria's General Petroleum Corporation, the authorities in Damas and Russia's Capital LLC (IO, 03/05/21) - which Intelligence
UKRAINE : New Ukrainian underground special forces training centre out of commission due to flood
The SBU, Ukraine's internal intelligence service, has opened an investigation after a newly refurbished military training centre in Berdichev, in the Zhitomir region, was flooded and can no longe...
FRANCE : Summer shakeup underway in French special forces
With the traditional summer shakeup looming, a number of changes are planned in the French special forces which are an
RUSSIA : FSB poised for additional responsibilities under new national security strategy
President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on 1 June outlining the new priorities the FSB will be given in Russia's
GEORGIA : Georgia plans tighter control of foreign investment in strategic sectors
On May 25, Georgia's State Security Service (SUS), the internal intelligence service, members of the country's National Security Council, headed
CHINA : Cyber leader Qihoo 360 dons offensive strategy via Cyberpeace
Qihoo 360, one of China's leading cybersecurity firms and a supplier to the People's Liberation Army (PLA, IO, 12/02/20), is
INDIA : Indian intelligence still hooked on ex-Appin tech stars
Tensions between China and India are at an all-time high with Beijing suspected of being involved in cyberattacks on India's power grid. These escalated last month with India's decision to ban th...
UNITED KINGDOM : Hakluyt swaps Mayfair's grey skies for Dubai sun
From Hakluyt's 2020 financial statements published at the end of May, it appears the company opened a new subsidiary in
FRANCE : New Caledonia inches towards centre stage of intelligence concerns
During her current trip to the French capital, it is understood Sonia Backès, the president of the Provincial Assembly of
CANADA/CHINA : Huawei hires more lobbyists in Ottawa amid increasing scrutiny
Huawei has hired two new Ottawa lobbyists from Impact Public Affairs as it looks to quell growing concerns about Chinese
UNITED KINGDOM : Lawyer McCue's team of intelligence, diplomacy and lobbying masters
As he prepares to return to defend victims of Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombings before a court in London, lawyer
UKRAINE : Reform bill cuts into SBU's initial mandate
The Ukrainian parliament's second reading of a bill to reform the internal intelligence service, the SBU, has been the subject
EUROPE : IntellSec purveys Western cyber-intelligence tools in Balkans
At a time when Serbia is trying to strengthen its cyber capacities - a Cybersecurity Intelligence Center will open in
AUSTRALIA : Canberra's new zero-day bounty hunter Duasynt
Australia has been increasing spending on its cyber-intelligence capacities and has a range of locally-grown vulnerability researchers, the likes of
RUSSIA/FRANCE : Paris operations of Bedzhamov's British friend Maxim Golodnitsky unveiled
A London High Court ruling on 25 May in the case between Russia's Vneshprombank and its former shareholder Georgi Bedzhamov (IO, 04/06/21), highlights relations between the Russian oligarch and b...
UNITED STATES/SAUDI ARABIA : Five Domains takes charge of integrating Saudi intelligence
The young JV AITC-Five Domains has hit the ground running since it won a highly strategic foreign military sales contract
LIBYA/UNITED STATES : Latest hunt for Libyan assets seeks patron
The registration statement US law firm Baker & Hostetler filed with the Department of Justice in accordance with the Foreign Agents Registration
UAE : BeaconRed and Quali team to develop cyber-attack simulation tools for Gulf zone
The partnership between US-Israeli cloud infrastructure firm Quali and UAE hybrid warfare specialist Beacon Red, illustrates the growing popularity in
UNITED KINGDOM : Wallbrook bolsters his advisory board
Founded by Ian Barclay in 2018 after his departure from Stroz Friedberg (IO, 26/09/18), the corporate intelligence firm Wallbrook has a thing for ex-staffers
UAE/YEMEN : After Socotra, UAE establishes new base on Yemen's Mayun island
According to our sources, the UAE is currently putting the finishing touches to a new air base on the Yemeni
CHINA : Intelligence agencies to keep watch on Beijing trade fair
Organisers of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), an annual gathering of companies looking for opportunities in
SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : What US trial could spell for Saudi spymaster Al Jabri's many businesses
As entities controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continue their hunt for former Saudi spymaster Saad Al Jabri's
FRANCE : Gulf drone agent Kfouri loses appeal against Airbus
Veteran Gulf agent Albert Kfouri lost his appeal to obtain some €40m compensation from Airbus Group and its military drone subsidiary Survey Copter last month, the Paris appeals court upholding...
UNITED STATES : Why In-Q-Tel poached the Intelligence Committee's Raffaela Wakeman
The move brings her from the regulator to the regulated. After serving as the staff director for the Strategic Technologies
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : CIA brings in new London chief of station
The CIA's new station chief, M. D., arrived in London a few weeks ago after serving several years as the
CHINA : F. Squares Technology to boost GEOINT analysis for financial sector with own SAR satellite
The geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) analysis company F. Squares Technology struck a deal with the futures brokerage firm NanhuaFutures in mid-May
FRANCE : Behind the scenes of Soria, Atos and Thales' stillborn military intelligence programme
While Thales and Atos announced on 27 May the launch of their joint venture Althea, a new entity that will
UNITED STATES : John Inglis's nomination as national cyber chief heralds new direction for US cyber
Once his nomination is confirmed by the Senate in the coming days, John Inglis will be able to settle down to building the new Office of National Cyber Director (ONCD). In an indication of the bi...
RUSSIA : Anti-corruption consultant Roman Putin campaigning for his cousin the president
On 27 May, Roman Putin, the son of a cousin to the Russian president, Igor Putin (IO, 25/11/09), opened a
SYRIA : WHO, Syria's stepping stone to the Concert of Nations
The World Health Organisation, already eager to work with companies close to Bachar Al Assad (IO, 19/01/21), has just awarded
CHINA : Social credit rollout delay complicates Gonganbu's track and punish plans
Shandong province's teething problems with the rollout of its much-debated social credit system - a project designed to allow Beijing
IRAQ/IRAN : Popular Mobilization Forces slim to constitute elite force
According to our sources, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Al Quds Force is in the throes of reorganising the Iraqi Popular
AFGHANISTAN : NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan spells tough road ahead for private security
Private security firms active in Afghanistan are beginning to fret. On 25 May, Australia announced it plans to close its embassy
IRAQ : Lockheed to oversee Iraqi F-16 maintenance remotely
US defence giant Lockheed Martin will not only move out of its Iraqi Al Balad base, as announced on 10
UNITED KINGDOM : British military wants to predict future wars with the help of Deadpan AI
Use big data to predict political instability around the world. This is what Britain's Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) and
RUSSIA : Vneshprombank and its investigators disavowed by UK top court
The London High Court decision published on 25 May was a slap in the face for Vneshprombank (VPB), which was declared bankrup in 2016 (IO, 07/05/21) and whose liquidator is the Russian Deposit In...
INDONESIA/GERMANY : Kamerman eyes Pretoria's submarines to help TKMS land Indonesian order
According to our sources, German Shipyards TKMS's head of strategic sales Jonathan Kamerman is looking to supply three second-hand submarines
UNITED STATES : Facebook's Threat Intelligence is a nest of former spies
As a further sign of the way Big Tech firms are ramping up their threat intelligence capacities, one of the
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM : CT Group's special branch hires CBS Washington bureau chief to lead DC opening
After laying down roots in London, CT Solutions and Private Advisory (CT SPA), the company recently set up by Australians Mark
FRANCE : Tracfin's role in combating predatory foreign investment gets it a seat on the DGSE's joint technical platform
Tracfin, the financial intelligence service that the French government sees as its best weapon for protecting the country's economy, recently
CHINA/HONG KONG : Hong Kong awash with new security units
The new national security department set up at the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) last month was the
RUSSIA/GERMANY/UKRAINE : German groups in Crimea provide pathway between Berlin and Moscow
On 22 May, Crimean politicians announced the visit of a delegation of around two dozen Germans who had travelled to
UNITED STATES/KUWAIT : Powerful Alghanim clan settles internecine scores in NY court
Despite his appointment last month as head of the board of the Family Business Network (FBN), an organisation founded in
SOUTH AMERICA : Pan-American cyber solutions retailer IAFIS hangs on Biden's talks with Maduro
The talks under way between the new Biden administration and Nicolas Maduro's government could bring much needed relief to cyber
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Akhan caught up in China-US semiconductor battle
According to our sources, US security and defence semiconductor manufacturer Akhan Semiconductors has been targeted by an unsuccesful cyber-espionage operation, probably carried out by a Chinese ...
UAE/KAZAKHSTAN : Kazakh businessman Karibzhanov's ex-wife unleashes torrent of revelations and claims
Kazakh businessman Aidan Karibzhanov's ex-wife took her bid to obtain a bigger share of his fortune to court in the
FRANCE : Haurus' darknet files used to spy on private investigator Kevin Rivaton
As the Nanterre magistrates' court prepares for the Haurus trial next month (IO, 31/05/21), there is another investigation underway led
YEMEN : Tarek Saleh unveils political ambitions under Abu Dhabi's patronage
According to our sources, Tarek Saleh, the nephew of Yemen's late President Ali Abdullah Saleh, is preparing a European tour
AUSTRALIA/FRANCE : Naval Group hires ex-trade minister as Australia submarine deal stumbles
France's Naval Group has hired former Australian MP Simon Crean as an adviser to steer it through the choppy waters
ISRAEL : Bindecy lays hands on struggling cyber security firm Merlinx
The Israeli tactical interceptions firm Merlinx (ex-Equus Technologies, IO, 28/02/18) was sold a few days ago to Bindecy, a small
UAE/QATAR/UNITED KINGDOM : Influence campaigns in the Gulf: Diligence faces Ghanem Nuseibeh
An unusual hearing will open in the Geneva court of first instance on 3 June, when Nick Day's corporate affairs firm Diligence will try to get consultant Ghanem Nuseibeh into the witness box to e...
UNITED KINGDOM/IRAQ : Pentagon subcontractors fall back on APC deal with UK army in Erbil
The British Ministry of Defence's call for tenders for the supply and maintenance of civilian armoured vehicles in Erbil opposes
UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Criteo hires former CIA agent for US branch
Criteo Innovation Hub, French digital marketing company Criteo's new Washington-based incubator, has enlisted the services of a former CIA East
RUSSIA : Sergei Korolev to carry Shanghai Pact's anti-terrorism flag
Sergei Korolev, a former GRU agent transferred to the FSB, replaced Sergei Smirnov as Russia's representative to the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
UNITED KINGDOM : Business diplomacy firm Gatehouse advises World Bank investment entity
The latest accounts from Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) published recently show that its list of consultants now includes Gatehouse
CHINA/FRANCE : Shandong University, close to Chinese defence sector, expands reach in Britanny
A virtual meeting on environmental cooperation held on 20 May between officials from the western French region of Brittany and
CHINA : Iristar carves role as biometrics expert to Gonganbu and partner to high-tech industries
The facial and iris recognition company Iristar, which has close ties to the Chinese government and is a supplier to
ISRAEL/UNITED STATES/FRANCE : Intelligence big data firm Voyager Labs has designs on France
According to our sources, the US-Israeli-British data mining firm Voyager Labs is looking for business developers in Paris and other
UNITED STATES : Grant Rogan's case against Airbus and Lockheed over Seoul's F-35s could be a game-ender
The complaint Grant Rogan first filed with a Virginia court in December and amended on 21 May, is his last hope of being reimbursed and compensated by his former partners, if he wants to continue...
UNITED KINGDOM : Investigator Cameron Findlay stirs Dechert and Gerrard's wrath in ENRC trial
Intelligence and security consultant Cameron Findlay was the star among a roster of figures from the corporate intelligence and private
FRANCE : DGSI's internal security faced with Haurus affair
While the trial is due to begin on 15 June in Nanterre, the order to refer the "Haurus" case, named after
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : Delta Crescent Energy reads between policy lines to stay put in northeast
Although the Biden administration is not planning to renew a Caesar Act waiver that allowed the small oil firm Delta
FRANCE : France's prisons open their gates to the anti-drone brigade
Three contenders, one from each of the three different sectors vying to break into the anti-drone protection market, are leading
FRANCE : French anti-fake news service Honfleur sets up management team
An agent of the French internal security service, the DGSI, will be leaving the Rue de Villiers in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret for the Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg in Paris's 7th arrond...
UNITED KINGDOM : Alan Duncan returns to Vitol and broadens his horizons
Alan Duncan is returning to Vitol as a consultant, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) has reported. A former
CHINA : Guoanbu's cyber tester Bolean Tech eyes more military contracts
Cybersecurity startup Bolean Technology, a longtime partner to China's intelligence services, plans to use its latest $16m financing round closed
IRAQ : Secret Falcon Cell further challenged by Basra assault
Sent on a special mission to Basra, the tactical unit of Iraq's Falcons Intelligence Cell counterrorism unit was targeted by
CHINA : PLA partner Discovery Dream faces IPO setback
The stock market listing of Chinese military big data supplier Discovery Dream Science & Technology, based in Sichuan, has recently
ISRAEL : Nir Barak steps back just as Kela's star rises
By naming head of research David Carmiel, a former Unit 8200 officer, as the new executive director of Kela Israeli
UNITED STATES : Krebs and Stamos draft cyberteam
The current pinned tweet on Alex Stamos' profile, posted on May 17, says that Krebs Stamos Group (KSG) is currently
UNITED STATES : Unipec enlists DHC in Washington to fight for Beijing's energy security
Lobbyist Jonathan McCollum has taken on a sizeable challenge. Amid a brewing anti-Chinese storm in Washington, the chair of federal government relations at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron (DHC) is hand...
UNITED KINGDOM : Richard Rands' Acumen takes hold in Mozambique
Richard Burton Rands' new advisory, Acumen Intelligent Consulting, is emerging as a leading intelligence provider on the unfolding crisis in
UNITED KINGDOM : Cyber Defence Service detects IED radiowaves for British military
Among a number of companies recently selected for the Manchester Evening News Tech Awards, Cyber Defence Service (CDS) stands out.
UNITED STATES/SYRIA : Pro-Kurd lobbyists secure footing in Washington
The first US delegation to visit northeastern Syria since Joe Biden's election (IO, 07/12/20) was welcomed on 16 May by local authorities, including
RUSSIA : Putin tightens grip on information security
In a decree issued on 17 May, President Vladimir Putin removed the last traces of the defunct Russian federal communications
UNITED STATES : High-flying lobbyist Zuberi's downfall leaves Gulf businessman Esam Janahi exposed
Esam Janahi, chairman of Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House (BGFH), is particularly concerned about his image. He tried for a while
CHINA : PLA biometrics supplier Eyecool Technology gets into smart city big data
The facial and iris recognition company Eyecool Technology, a supplier to the Chinese police and military, is looking to put
UNITED STATES : Unseenlabs and Horizon eye US SIGINT market
Horizon Technologies announced on 19 May, almost 30 years after it was founded, that it had closed a Series A round of financing led by British private equity fund Maven Capital Partners. The mul...
OMAN : Unflinching Al Naamani restructures sultanate's intelligence services
Just months after it looked like he was in for the chop (IO, 27/01/21), the coordinator of Oman's security and
AFGHANISTAN/RUSSIA : Russian services regroup in Dushanbe as NATO withdraws from Kabul
The location of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's latest meeting could be a telltale sign of things to come: the
UNITED STATES/GEORGIA : Jeffrey Liebert crowned USAID's financier in Tbilisi
Almost a US special envoy these days, Jeffrey Liebert was chosen by USAID again in May (IO, 04/11/20). Liebert's fund
UAE/UKRAINE : Washington favourite Cyber Unit Technologies tries its luck in UAE
Ukraine's Cyber Unit Technologies (CUT) has been keeping busy ever since it unveiled its plans to open an office in
UNITED STATES : Resolute loses Moultrie but still has two CIA-veteran advisers
With former NSA and CIA official Ron Moultrie's appointment this month as Under Secretary for Defense for Intelligence (IO, 19/05/21), the recently-founded Resolute subsidiary Resolute Strategic ...
FRANCE : Alvarez & Marsal strengthens its Paris investigations team
Alvarez & Marsal's dispute and investigations branch, which has a small office in Paris, began looking for new investigators in
UNITED STATES : Rubio bill seeks to boost Senate intelligence committee's role in foreign investment decisions
A bill to protect US genomic data introduced this month by Republican senator and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI)
FRANCE/RUSSIA : Daughter of pro-Russian European networks old stager in line for consular role in Moscow
Five lists of candidates have been unveiled in the leadup to the elections for consular advisers for the Russia-Belarus area.
CHINA/TAIWAN : Taiwan intelligence agency doubles down on China focus with new appointment
Taiwan's intelligence agency, the National Security Bureau (NSB), is strengthening its China focus with the appointment of lieutenant general Chen
PALESTINE : Dahlan mobilises supporters in Abu Dhabi, Ramallah and Cairo
From his home in exile in the UAE, former Palestinian spymaster Mohammed Dahlan (IO, 26/04/21) is determined to have a
INDIA : Chillar father and son build up Phronesis's cyber and arms supply empire
Former Indian army brigadier Ram Chillar, whois best known for having set up Phronesis, a company which worked on spying
FRANCE/RUSSIA/UKRAINE/UNITED KINGDOM : Appraisers clash over Dmitry Firtash's Bordeaux chateau in London
The publication on 14 May of the findings of a hearing between expert appraisers in London on 23 April, sheds light on Ukrainian businessman
SAUDI ARABIA : FN Herstal case puts European spotlight back on business networks during Abdullah era
Military procurement scandals involving the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) look set to come to the fore again as a result of banking compliance measures in Belgium. As the newspaper La Libre...
UAE/ISRAEL : CommuniTake pitches challenger to DarkMatter's secure telephone solution Katim on its ground
The Israeli firm CommuniTake Technologies, cofounded by Ronen Sasson, Eran Karpen, Omri Lavie and Shalev Hulio, will make its bow
EUROPE : Norwegian oil fund hooked on CSR probes
The Council on Ethics of Norway's oil fund, the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), published a call for tenders on 14 May,
UNITED KINGDOM : Digi2al, the UK's British security forces "Bellingcat"
On 6 May, UK digital services provider Digi2al was awarded a £132,150 contract by the UK Home Office to develop
UNITED STATES/CHINA : Washington moves to strengthen university defences against Chinese espionage
The Endless Frontier Act, a bipartisan bill to beef up US technology research to better compete with China that the
FRANCE : Parliamentary intelligence committee to get slightly more power in new bill
In debates of the parliamentary law commission on 19 May, committee chairs Françoise Dumas and Yael Braun-Pivet and the intelligence
RUSSIA : Russia's rising star Patrushev tarnished by fraud accusations
Russia's parliament-controlled national audit office, headed by former finance minister Alexei Kudrin, suspects agriculture minister Dmitri Patrushev, a rising star
IRAQ : Iraqi Kurdistan's Khor Mor gas field extension attracts interest
The Emirati oil company Dana Gas, which is chaired by the ubiquitous businessman Majid Jafar, son of eminent Baghdadi Hamid
EUROPE : Frontex splashes about to find a GEOINT provider for maritime surveillance
Frontex is struggling to find a geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and analytics provider. As it ramps up its intelligence capacities, the
TURKEY : Dahlan pesters Erdogan from Dubai through Peker
After weeks being splashed across YouTube, social media and Gulf news sites, the accusations made against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's entourage by Sedat Peker, the Turkish businessman on the...
FRANCE : Will Avisa Partners soon produce a talk show about its business?
French influence company Avisa Partners, headed by Matthieu Creux, is offering €1,500 per episode, with four episodes planned, to the
UNITED STATES/EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/RUSSIA : Gryphon Strategies eyes European markets with VLM Advisory deal
Gryphon Strategies' acquisition of Victoria Mackay's VLM Advisory is poised to lead off a recruitment drive at the London firm,
ISRAEL : Mossad and Pasdaran jostle for recruits on same turf
Amid the new escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas, another conflict continues to rage underfoot: the recruitment war for
FRANCE/INDONESIA : Dassault, Airbus tiptoe through anti-corruption minefield on Indonesian deals
Although the sale of 36 Dassault Rafale received the initial approval of the Indonesian government a few weeks ago, the
FRANCE : How Paris intends to eavesdrop on satellite internet constellation feeds
France's new intelligence bill, presented by government on 28 April (IO, 11/05/21), provides for an experiment that would allow the interception
AFGHANISTAN : Fear of past chaos looms large on eve of US withdrawal
With the Biden administration having confirmed the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan on 4 July, according to the latest timetable, there are fears that violence or even civil war could bre...
UNITED KINGDOM : Riskology gathers lords and ex-security officers in new alliance
Riskology Global, a new risk management company founded by former British armed forces soldier turned oil consultant Robin Bieber, has
UNITED KINGDOM : Kim Darroch jumps from national security to Netflix
The former British ambassador to the United States Kim Darroch, now Lord Darroch of Kew, has been working as a
UNITED KINGDOM/RUSSIA : Dmitry Kirpichenko, asset manager and consultant between London and Moscow
A new judgement from a London court on 11 May has finally laid bare a scheme set up by Maxwell
UNITED KINGDOM : Ex-army CIO Hooper stays in defence IT with Harmonic
The former chief executive officer for the British Ministry of Defence's information systems architecture, Ivan Hooper, is keeping a foot
CHINA/HONG KONG : Mainland's tightening grip on Hong Kong security agencies jostled by massage parlour raid
Frederic Choi Chin-pang, director of the Hong Kong Police Force's (HKPF) national security department, was placed on leave this month
SAUDI ARABIA/PAKISTAN : Riyadh and Islamabad rekindle strategic alliance
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rolled out the red carpet for Pakistan's Prime Minister Iran Khan (IO, 27/11/19)
RUSSIA/CHINA : Beijing enters Russian energy breach opened by oligarchs
The appointment of Sergey Bisirkin as interim director of the Russian energy company Territorial Generation Company n°2 (TGK-2) illustrates the
ISRAEL/EUROPE : Excem, Israeli cyber's bridgehead in Spain
Increasingly vocal on social networks about its communications intelligence (COMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) capacities, Spain's Excem Technologies appears to be
UAE/INDIA : Indian interceptions mogul Anant Bindal behind Stratign in Dubai
The Emirati interceptions firm Stratign has added a new tactical interceptions solution to its product line - an SUV packed with intelligence gathering tools, from an IMSI-catcher to facial recog...
RUSSIA : XL, Swiss Re and Russian sovereign fund in court battle over grounded Gulfstream
Concerned that a court order to recover assets may not be executed in Russia, British judge Andrew Smith of the
JAPAN : Tokyo seeks to diversify intelligence alliances
Hiroaki Takizawa, the head of the Naicho, Japan's intelligence service, and US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines met
UNITED STATES : Moultrie to face Pentagon's intelligence problems
Ronald Moultrie, who was appointed Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence by the White House in April, began working with
IRAQ : Dynasty case unravels Kurdish clan dispute over oil
The Iraqi firm Dynasty, whose London legal offensive against the Kurdistan Regional Government failed on 22 April, is strongly linked
UAE/ISRAEL : Tamir Pardo's XM Cyber changes partner in UAE
The UAE distributor Spire Solutions and Israeli automated pentest firm XM Cyber (IO, 10/12/20), clinched a patnership deal on 10
LEBANON : New Internet platforms compete for information about Riad Salamé
Following the opening of a series of wide-ranging investigations into the activities of the Bank of Lebanon governor Riad Salamé (IO, 05/05/21), new Internet platforms have been set up to gather...
UNITED KINGDOM : Axa increases its interest on S-RM
French insurer Delphine Maisonneuve, who joined the board of security and intelligence advisory S-RM as Axa's representative in January has
MOLDOVA/RUSSIA : Pro-Russian faction and ex-FSB agents ramp up pressure on Chisinau
As the pro-European President Maia Sandu - who assumed office in late December and has struggled to form a government
IRAQ : Race is on for top French diplomatic seat in Baghdad
The French ambassador to Iraq, Bruno Aubert, is preparing to leave Baghdad where he has been since 2017 after securing
ISRAEL/PALESTINE : Doha hosts highly charged secret ceasefire talks
Following the latest outbreak of hostilities between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the most violent since Operation Protective Edge in
CHINA : I&R Capital advises Chinese cyber startups
Financial advisory firm I&R Capital, which has helped several Chinese space and technology startups raise funding, is taking a first
AUSTRIA/UNITED KINGDOM : Nordheider builds bridge between Hakluyt and image-conscious Swarovski
The British consultancy Hakluyt has become closer to Swarovski with the hiring of Austrian Taro Nordheider, the former executive vice president of the luxury
FRANCE : France's ANSSI explores deceptive cybersecurity
According to our sources, the French cybersecurity agency ANSSI (Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information) is taking a
RUSSIA : Afinogenov serves as intermediary between Novatek, Total and Russian security services
President Vladimir Putin partly changed the makeup of the Russian National Security Council's scientific committee for the first time since 2017 in a decree published on 11 May. Dmitri Afinogenov...
EUROPE/NORWAY : Norwegian parliament calls on private cyber firefighter
The Norwegian parliament, Storting, has sustained several cyber attacks in recent months, one of which it attributed to Russia, and
EUROPE : Berlin Global Advisors goes to Brussels
According to our information, Berlin Global Advisors (BGA) is poised to open a new office in Brussels in the coming
UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES : New PR push ahead of court battle between Neil Gerrard, ENRC and their investigators
The lawyers' letters are currently flying between the New York Times, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) and law firm
CANADA : UrtheCast offshoot seeks to work its way back into Canadian space market
Satellite imaging company EarthDaily Analytics, a reincarnation of the now defunct Canadian firm UrtheCast (IO, 05/07/17), recruited three Rubicon Strategy
RUSSIA : FSB unit moves into new facility on Black Sea
A Russian government decree on 27 April sent Military Unit 35690 to Kamiesh Bay in Crimea, "to secure the defence
SAUDI ARABIA : Sultan bin Salman's fall resets Saudi space contracts
Sultan bin Salman's abrupt ousting from his post as chairman of the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) - or Saudi Space
TURKEY/FRANCE/ISRAEL/UNITED STATES/AFRICA : Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle
Following the death of Chad's President Idriss Deby in fighting against the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), on April 19, top intelligence officials in a number of countries quickly w...
RUSSIA : Mints clan has one foot in London, other in Moscow
In a verdict handed down on 30 April, the London High Court threw out Russian businessman Igor Mints's claim for
CHINA : Shandong University's cyber specialists help with internal security in Qingdao
Shandong University, an institution that has significant ties to China's defence industry, is taking a step closer to the public
FRANCE : ChapsVision makes its debut in France's domestic intel big data programme
French company ChapsVision is one of the new partners in which France's internal security service, the DGSI, is taking a
JAPAN : Tokyo seeks balance on GEOINT strategy between state alliances and New Space
Faced with new threats and an evolving industry, Japan seeks to become a Asian leader in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), by focusing in part on increasing its partnerships with New Space compan...
UNITED STATES : Bird Dog Investigator app benefits from its Diligence connection
Vantage Intelligence, the business intelligence company set up by Gretchen King and Masha Shvetsova, recently became a key partner of
SYRIA : American special forces stuck in a tight corner in north east Syria
The charges brought by the US Army's Criminal Investigation Command in April against Robert Nicoson, a sergeant in an 82nd
UNITED KINGDOM : Investigator Lindsey Diggins changes firms but stays in the "Londongrad" business
The accounts filed at the end of April show that Keith Hunter's small high-end investigation company, Animus Associates, survived the
SINGAPORE/UNITED STATES : US looks to Singaporean intelligence hub as it ramps up Indo-Pacific strategy
The Information Fusion Centre in Singapore, a maritime intelligence-sharing hub hosted by the Singaporean navy, could soon find itself at
EUROPEAN UNION/IRAQ/UNITED KINGDOM : Brexit unleashes uncertainty on EU security contracts in Iraq
The impact of Brexit has rippled out to Iraq, where, according to Intelligence Online's sources, the European External Action Service
RUSSIA/CHINA : APASS sets up helicopter sales between Russia and China
As China assesses whether to certify the Russian passenger transport helicopter Mi-171A2, which recently parted ways with its Ukrainian engine
AUSTRALIA : Foreign minister extends cooperation to online influence operations
The Australian government's new cyber cooperation strategy, which was unveiled in April, brings the fight against disinformation into its range
FRANCE : Defence ministry's anti-drone project Parade will need big contractor firepower
The tender call issued on 2 April by the French armed forces ministry's armaments department, the DGA, for a system to defend French military sites from attacks by micro-drones (less than 2 kg) a...
AFGHANISTAN/IRAN : Pasdaran begin moves in Afghanistan ahead of US withdrawal
While another meeting between the Taliban and officials from Kabul took place in Doha on 30 April and the US
RUSSIA/SWITZERLAND : Gennady Timchenko's French connections at heart of Franco-Russian business network
The bosses of major French companies in Russia had an audience with President Vladimir Putin and a large delegation of
CHINA : 6Cloud Technology's cyber offense research effort driven by former army and Gonganbu experts
Cybersecurity firm 6Cloud Technology is counting on the $23m it raised last month to speed up its rise in the
RUSSIA : Putin struggles to renew strategic guard in Middle East
Although getting close to retirement age, Sergey Vershinin, 66, was recently kept on for another year as deputy to the
UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM/FRANCE : Western intelligence ...s tackle challenge of attributing foreign influence operations
The US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines announced on 29 April her plan to create a Foreign Malign Influence
FRANCE : French armed forces' new Reaper still being tested
French armed forces minister Florence Parly told the parliamentary defence committee on 4 May that the General Atomics Reaper Block
FRANCE : Gatewatcher boosts ties with state after legal wrangle with co-founder
As we understand, the French public prosecutor lodged an appeal in April against Philippe Gillet, co-founder and technical director of
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Frank Schneider's arrest shakes up Luxembourg's intelligence community
After his arrest and remand in custody in the eastern French town of Nancy on 29 April, private investigator Frank Schneider was able to speak to his lawyers, Intelligence Online's sources say. S...
FRANCE : Government adds final touches to intelligence bill
The amended intelligence bill to be presented Wednesday to the Council of Ministers, contains among other points, the right for
FRANCE : Gendarmerie intelligence service goes into business protection in the absence of a greater counter-terrorism role
Even before the deadly attack on a police commissiariat by a mentally disturbed radical islamist in the town of Rambouillet
YEMEN : Pro-active Iranian ambassador galvanises Houthi military
Hassan Erlou has not been idle since taking over as the Iranian ambassador to Yemen last October (IO, 21/10/20). After
CANADA : Ex-spymasters Fadden and Elcock slot into private sector roles
Former national security advisor Richard Fadden said that Canada needed to reduce the number of Chinese Public Security, or Gonganbu,
FRANCE : Former Suneris executive takes charge at online counter-influence start-up Sahar
Some weeks ago, Erwan Le Gall took charge of young big data analysis company Sahar. Previously, Le Gall had been
SAUDI ARABIA : Squad of subcontractors get busy on major works for Saudi intelligence service
The General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), Saudi Arabia's intelligence service, has recently launched a major online recruitment drive for the first time in its history. Candidates can apply via ...
EGYPT : East Gas and its master spies aim to take charge of Egypt's gas negotiations
Israel and Egypt are currently working to implement the agreement they signed on 21 February to build a gas pipeline
IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN : GardaWorld eyes G4S' subsidiaries in high-risk areas
After losing a bidding war for G4S to Allied Universal last year, GardaWorld appears interested in taking over the British
FRANCE : DGSE swallows up €2bn in resources
On 7 May, French defence minister Florence Parly announced that France's external intelligence service, the DGSE, will move its headquarters to Vincennes fort on the outskirts of Paris in 2028, a...
AFGHANISTAN/FRANCE : NATO suspends Thales and GEOS contract in Kabul
It is understood that Thales and its service provider GEOS will be leaving Afghanistan at the end of June as
UNITED KINGDOM : Stokoe fails to damage RAK investigators before upcoming Gerrard/ENRC case
On 5 May, the London High Court decided to merge the cases of Karam Al Sadeq and Jihad Quzmaz, both
POLAND/UKRAINE : Ukraine and Poland team up anticorruption bureaus under Washington's watchful gaze
During President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Warsaw on 3 May, Ukraine and Poland reaffirmed their faith in the deal signed in
TURKEY : Turkish intelligence service prepares a new anti-Gulen purge
Under the orders of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish intelligence service MIT is preparing the way for a new
FRANCE/INDONESIA : After Cairo, Rafale ready to land in Jakarta
According to our sources, Dassault and the Indonesian Air Force have started the paperwork for the sale of 36 Rafale,
ISRAEL : Rayzone loses its cyber chief as it tries to free itself of its reliance on SS7
Israeli communications interception company Rayzone Group's chief cyber officer, Guy Mizrahi, left the firm a few weeks ago and is
FRANCE/RUSSIA/SWITZERLAND : Louis-Dreyfus escapes the clutches of the Russian asset recovery agency
Russia's Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA), which is known for the court cases it has brought in Europe with the help
ISRAEL : Tsahal fears weaknesses in its anti-missile defences
The explosion of a Syrian missile 30 kilometres from the highly sensitive Dimona nuclear site on 22 April has raised
FRANCE : French cyber soldiers are more interested in Apple's smartphone vulnerabilities than Huawei's
Based in Bruz, near the French city of Rennes, the research centre of the French armed forces ministry's cyber arms
VIETNAM : Balkan arms suppliers look to benefit from their long-standing links with Hanoi
The new Vietnamese government, led by former masterspy Pham Minh Chinh, is looking to rebuild the trade networks once used by foreign firms active in the country (Intelligence Online, 13/04/21). ...
EUROPE : EU bets on big data and drones to combat heritage trafficking
In the Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) it published on 12 April, Europol recalls that the Internet has
AUSTRALIA/JAPAN/UNITED STATES : US shields telecommunicatio...Indo-Pacific from Chinese influence with Palau submarine cable
The US is looking to take a bigger role in backing submarine cable projects as part of its plan to
RUSSIA/FRANCE : French companies turn to embassy in Moscow for help with private security woes
Following Intelligence Online's revelations about CAC40 companies' woes with private security personnel in Russia (Intelligence Online, 21/04/21), Auchan and other
UNITED KINGDOM : Post Hakluyt, Watson joins Brear at Othrys
Ex-diplomat and intelligence specialist Nicholas Watson has started to make his mark at, and taken a stake in, Othrys, the
UAE : Iranian-Swedish businessman Amir Taheri hopes to settle score with Dubai before ICSID
On 21 April, the Swedish businessman of Iranian descent, Amir Masood Taheri, filed a claim against the United Arab Emirates
CHINA : Changyang Technology secures critical infrastructure for Beijing
The cybersecurity firm Changyang Technology signed a deal last month to secure the networks of the state-owned Fujian Electronics and
AUSTRALIA : US SpecterOps to buff up Australian spymasters' cybersecurity skills
US cybersecurity firm SpecterOps won a contract, published on 9 April, to provide cybersecurity training to agents from the Australian
FRANCE : Special Forces test French drones' intelligence capabilities
Two weeks ago, the French Air Force's special forces invited local drone signal intelligence (SIGINT) specialists Extrem-Drone, Impact, Syans and Atos to their Athena annual exercise in Cazaux. A...
SAUDI ARABIA/IRAQ/IRAN : Al-Kadhimi plays role in Iran-Saudi talks
With the second Iranian-Saudi high-level meeting due to take place in Baghdad some time in the next two weeks, Iraq's
LEBANON : Multiple investigations underway into BDL chief Riad Salamé
Officials are due to be interviewed in Beirut this week following with the Swiss Confederation's request last year for judicial
FRANCE/SAUDI ARABIA : Mohammed bin Salman's favourite consultant at centre of French embassy debate
According to our sources, Ludovic Pouille, the French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has approved the appointment of Philippe Cornette de
UNITED STATES : ODNI's new centre to combat foreign influence may sideline State Dept's hub
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines said during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on 29 April that
BELARUS : Lukashenko strengthens national security council to keep grip on power
The Belarusian National Security Council, which was substantially overhauled last year amid the country's political protests, has a preponderant role
ISRAEL/GREECE : Israeli groups challenge Turkey for conquest of Greek cyber
Though announced last week, Elbit Systems' deal with the Greek navy is understood to have been locked in a year
CHINA/TAIWAN : Interception technologies distributor Cyber Smart finds clients on both sides of Taiwan Strait
On one side, the United States has been urging Taiwan to adopt hybrid warfare techniques in response to the rising
MONGOLIA/UNITED STATES : K2 Integrity steps into Mongolian anti-corruption morass
The Mongolian government hired veteran Washington lobbyist Douglas Goodyear last month. Goodyear will promote President Khaltmaa Battulga ahead of the country's planned elections in June. Behind ...
UNITED KINGDOM : What will become of G4S' Iraqi, Afghan and African security contracts?
On 4 April, Allied Universal acquired G4S for €4.37bn under the condition that the latter pull out of some of
BELGIUM/FRANCE : France and Belgium head down different pat... bulk collection ruling, paving the way for cooperation issues
In its 22 April decision regarding the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgement delivered on 6 October
UNITED STATES : Christy Abizaid to oversee new priorities at NCTC
Christine Abizaid, who is awaiting her confirmation by Congress as the White House's choice to head the National Counterterrorism Center
FRANCE/QATAR : Belgian-Lebanese agent Georges Chebib struggles to convince in Paris
Georges Chebib has recently bombarded major French companies with a flurry of documentation, from company registers to organisational maps, to
ISRAEL : Israeli GEOINT firm ISI aims for reboot with focus on analytics
The Israeli geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) firm ImageSat International (ISI), headed by former Elbit director, Noam Segal, is preparing its entry
CHINA/HONG KONG : Hong Kong Aerospace to help monitor cities for Beijing
The satellite company Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group (HKATG) signed an agreement late April to develop smart cities with Huawei's cloud division, in a move that further solidifies its role ...
RUSSIA : Gun-loving ex-agent Maria Butina launches political career
President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party has nominated Maria Butina as a candidate in the country's general elections in
CYPRUS : TRG prepares to enter European market
The Cypriot TRG Research And Development (Intelligence Online, 29/04/20) is currently working to make its heterodox data analysis programme Intellectus
UNITED KINGDOM/UAE : Alaco investigates Sheikh Khalifa's health
The mental capacity of the United Arab Emirates' official ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was recently investigated by
FRANCE : Ex-intelligence officers infiltrate soldiers' opinion page
The letter published on 21 April by Valeurs actuelles, a French right-wing weekly news magazine often seen as the opinions
FRANCE : Defence minister Florence Parly to talk Big Data at DRM base on 6 May
On May 6, French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly will officially announce from the French military intelligence (DRM) campus on
CHINA : Guoanbu toughens up on economic counter-espionage as China continues global expansion
The new counter-espionnage measures announced on 26 April by the China's Ministry of State Security, or Guoanbu, show that there are
SYRIA : Russia makes masked re-entry in Syrian offshore exploration
Syria wants back in the Mediterranean gas exploration race and Bashar Al Assad has awarded permits for offshore blocks 1
FRANCE : Last minute shakeup as intelligence bill to be passed
The intelligence bill introduced to the Council of State with great fanfare on 28 April was in the end only a rough draft. The government will make significant additions to the bill via an amendi...
FRANCE : France's PNF beefs up foreign and OSINT investigation capacities
According to our sources, the Parquet National Financier (PNF), the French financial crime squad, which was recently granted more scope
CHINA/FRANCE : DRSD wants higher staff skills to meet Chinese threat
During a hearing of the French parliament's defence and armed forces committee on 6 April, General Eric Bucquet, head of
AUSTRALIA : US FireEye nudges way further into Australia's cyber strategy
Despite being compromised through a supply chain attack when a threat actor broke into the SolarWinds software it was using
VIETNAM : Vietnamese army and security services compete for control of cyber contracts
When new prime minister Pham Minh Chinh (Intelligence Online, 13/04/21) took office at the beginning of April, Ngô Xuân Lich was removed as defence minister, a role he had occupied since 2016. ...
UNITED KINGDOM : The Foreign Office to invite bids for security and intelligence contracts at high-risk embassies
According to an advisory issued on 9 April, Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is to invite bids for
RUSSIA : SVR's military unit under new command
According to our sources, Aleksandr Ivanovich P. is starting to make his mark as the head of Unit 61643, the
FRANCE : French intelligence services question China's influence in Myanmar
Officials from the French external intelligence service, the DGSE, and the defence ministry's international and strategic relations directorate, the DGRIS,
FRANCE : Christophe Gomart gets into intelligence teaching
Christophe Gomart, the former head of the DRM, the French military intelligence service, is to head a new university module
FRANCE : Siepel moves into bug-sweeping
The Societe Industrielle d'Etudes et Protections Electroniques (Siepel), which specialises in electromagnetic spectrum management, is according to our information preparing
CHINA/BALKANS : Balkans companies help Beijing realise its major projects and extend its influence in the region
Following the European Commission's decision in mid-April not to help the Montenegrin government to reimburse a loan contracted by its
EUROPE : Frontex forges ahead with GEOINT and AI initiatives
In line with its new budgetary priorities, Frontex, the European border protection agency headed by Fabrice Leggeri, launched a tender on 16 April for a consulting framework deal worth €3m, for...
UKRAINE/UNITED STATES : Lanny Davis comes to Firtash's rescue again
Still under investigation in the US for attempted corruption in connection with Indian mining licenses, Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash is
CANADA : Global Spatial Technology turns to Pesic for help with SAR, AIS data analysis bid
Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS), a Nova Scotia-based maritime data analysis firm, recruited lobbyist Goran Samuel Pesic on 12 April
RUSSIA/UNITED STATES : US sanctions against Positive Technologies highlight risks run by cyber threat intelligence companies
Cybersecurity company Positive Technologies, a sort of Russian equivalent of Crowdstrike, was added to the list of companies sanctioned by
UNITED KINGDOM : BEIS arms British government against economic warfare
Currently reviewed by the British parliament, the National Security and Investment Bill (NSI), which was introduced by Department for Business,
CANADA/CHINA/UNITED STATES : Canadian MPs report calls out China threat, as US pressure mounts
The annual report from the Canadian National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) published on 12 April reaffirms the
ITALY/RUSSIA/SWITZERLAND : RDIF calls on Italian-Swiss contacts to secure Sputnik V production
Germany announced on 22 April that it wants to buy 30 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine pending approval, days
CANADA/SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED STATES : Al Jabri comes under fire from Deloitte in Boston despite support from Cofer Black
The hunt for the assets of former Saudi master spy Saad Al Jabri, which is being conducted by firms working for crown prince Mohamed bin Salman, has moved since the end of March to the courts in ...
JORDAN : Abdullah II instructs GID to loosen grip on tribal leaders
On 22 April, the King of Jordan Abdullah II instructed the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) to release 16 of the
SYRIA : Caesar Act amendments make life easier for pro-Damas NGOs
In proposing two amendments to the Caesar Act, the Syrian sanctions legislation which came into force in June 2020, the
RUSSIA : Russian cyber deception steps up a notch with Xello and Bastion
As the US begins to impose sanctions on russian threat intelligencs firms, a small posy of cyber deception specialists has
FRANCE/INDIA : After Rafale headache, Mirage upgrades come back to haunt French defence leaders
If the eleventh hour mediation talks fall through, Thales - and other French Groups involved in the deal- may soon find itself facing a lawsuit from India before a court in Paris. A former agent ...
EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM : Welund keeps tabs on environmentalists
A report published by Greenpeace and Fridays for Future in Austria on 13 April shines a spotllight on the private
CHINA : Harvest Capital finances military-civil fusion
The private equity firm Harvest Capital strengthened its position as one of the leading backers of China's defense industry, as
GERMANY : Schmidt-Deguelle can put his China expertise to work for Berlin Global Advisors
Since the start of the month, Klaus-Peter Schmidt-Deguelle has been a senior adviser at Berlin Global Advisors (BGA), the business
FRANCE : French financial intelligence takes one further step towards European and international cooperation
With the publication of government decree 2021-375 on 1 April, Tracfin, France's financial intelligence service headed by Maryvonne Le Brignonen,
UNITED STATES : Zero Security Research Labs - zero-day broker and IMSI-catcher
Demand for zero-day vulnerabilities is continuing to increase fast, as are the premiums offered by vulnerability sellers. American company Zerodium
LEBANON : CMA CGM in pole position for Beirut port after German project rejected
According to our information, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has rejected the German plan for the reconstruction of Beirut port that
CHINA/UNITED STATES : Intelligence-sharing at core of Washington's riposte to Beijing in Indo-Pacific region
The proposed Strategic Competition Act of 2021, a new bipartisan bill that lays out a US strategy to halt China's growing influence on the world stage, calls for stronger security ties with Japan...
UNITED KINGDOM : More investigators embroiled in Neil Gerrard's legal disputes
Documents handed to the High Court in London during a case management conference on 21 April indicate that the law
UKRAINE/FRANCE : Zelensky eyes spy satellite
According to our sources, the Ukrainian defence ministry has entered talks with the French government about procuring a military observation
UNITED STATES : VOR Technology makes itself indispensable to US cyber-defence
VOR Technology has launched a major recruitment drive, hiring former NSA analysts in particular, to service its support contract with
UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Competition heats up for NATO Sahel compound contract
A major contract to build and operate a NATO compound in the Sahel is due to be awarded this month.
RUSSIA : Oligarchs deal with Covid-19
While President Vladimir Putin was vaccinated against Covid-19 on March
UNITED KINGDOM : Stokoe makes fresh attempt to get Grayson in witness box
The London law firm Stokoe Partnership, which is representing Karam
TURKEY/SYRIA/LIBYA : Reports of MIT Libyan proxy withdrawal greatly exaggerated
While Paris and Berlin welcomed the announced withdrawal of Syrian
CHINA : Security agencies tighten hold over discipline programme
China's security apparatus is preparing to further crack down on
INDIA/RUSSIA : Lavrov tries to derail Reaper deal
In addition to the usual regional issues for discussion, such as Afghanistan and China, Sergey Lavrov's visit to New Delhi
IRAQ : Militias target intelligence service INIS
When an officer of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS), Mohammed Latin, was assassinated at his home in the Mansour
RUSSIA : Evgeni Primakov Jr renews Russian soft power as head of Rossotrudnichestvo
On 30 March, Russian foreign ministry strategists gathered to discuss the activities of the soft power tool Rossotrudnitchestvo, or the
FRANCE : Tracfin transforms to meet French government priorities
In the midst of structural reform (IOL 867, IOL 864), the small but strategic French financial intelligence service Tracfin is
JORDAN : Royal clash concerns Amman's allies
Shaken by very unusual royal divisions, Jordan has its allies fearing that this island of stability, essential in a changing
UAE : Al Nahyans' Royal Diamond shifts attentions from Western defence companies to Chinese oil interests
UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Group 42 (IOL 869) and other Al Nahyan family-owned companies are
EUROPE : After sensors, Frontex turns to big data
Frontex is turning to the private sector to identify data algorithms best suited for its needs, with the help of
FRANCE : DGSI adapts to new European intelligence landscape
The French internal intelligence service, the DGSI, is in the
SYRIA/CHINA : Guoanbu helps Damascus in Idlib
A Chinese delegation made an unprecedented visit to Idlib governorate a few weeks ago to meet with Mohammed Natouf, the
CHINA : Weapons group Poly teams with satellite services player Unistrong
Poly Group, the state-owned conglomerate that controls the defence company Poly Technologies (IOL 762), is poised to up its technological
SWITZERLAND/CHINA : FIS expected to join new China coordination body
Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) ) will be invited to participate in the new China coordinating body created as part
ISRAEL : Libya: Jerusalem keeps close watch on Libyan sons' battle
According to our sources, Israeli officers recently met Saddam Haftar,
UNITED STATES : Diplomatic Spymaster Holmgren has White House inside track
Nominated by Joe Biden at the end of March as Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR),
UNITED STATES : Capitol Counsel partner helps produce BRI report after lobbying for Beijing
The task force for the Council on Foreign Relations '
UAE/ISRAEL : Pardo goes to Abu Dhabi to support Avnon
Tomer Avnon, the chief executive of the Israeli defence and intelligence company Avnon Group, and Aviad Grinfeld met several Gulf
FRANCE/CHINA : Thales and Airbus consultant Chunyan Li promotes book with help from Raffarin
Chunyan Li, a consultant who heads the Paris-based outfit Feida
QATAR/UNITED STATES/EUROPE : Doha tries to sell drones to Europe
John Hardwick, the new chief executive of Barzan Aeronautical (IOL 873), toured Europe last month with the firm's counsel Christopher
UNITED STATES : K2 recreates Kroll in Chicago
Father and son Jules Kroll and Jeremy Kroll's K2 Integrity,
UNITED KINGDOM : New economic intelligence unit not overseen by ISC
The UK government does not want its new Investment Security
SAUDI ARABIA : Discreet but strategic competition underway for Saudi Arabian anti-drone system
Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted oil facilities in Riyadh on 19 March, less than two weeks after an attack on the Ras Tanura refinery and, a few days before that, the deployment of drones against A...
FRANCE : DGSE plays discreet role in other intelligence services' big data programmes
Artemis, the French defence ministry's big data project (IOL 873), which is in the throes of a big upheaval, appears
RUSSIA : Putin cloaks national health agency in shroud of secrecy
Following a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on 25 March, Russia's Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), which has been handling
FRANCE : French defence minister and military intelligence service bid to get big data plans back on track
According to our sources, French military intelligence, the DRM (Direction du Renseignement Militaire) recently established an expert working group to
CHINA : GrandHonor gets boost from Qingdao state funds
Flush with state funding from the Chinese port city of Qingdao, big data analytics company GrandHonor is looking to move
FRANCE : New order in internal intelligence and police cyber services
According to our sources, Frederic Valette, a graduate of France's elite Polytechnique graduate school, is poised to replace Patrick Guyonneau
FRANCE : Courted by DGSI, Saagie joins GICAT intelligence club
The French data analytics company Saagie has recently discreetly taken
FRANCE : Nexa parts company with Plath, becomes own Boss
From company records in several countries and Intelligence Online's sources, earlier this month Germany's Plath divested its 30% stake in
FRANCE : DGSI launches post-Palantir programme with OTDH
A new acronym is being whispered in the French intelligence community, Intelligence Online can reveal. OTDH, which stands for Outil