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    Spy Way of Life | France
    From Burgundy brotherhoods to grands crus… How French spymasters make the most of wine diplomacy

    Members of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin during the Saint-Vincent Tournante festival in Ladoix-Serrigny, France, on 25 January 2025.
    Members of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin during the Saint-Vincent Tournante festival in Ladoix-Serrigny, France, on 25 January 2025.© JC Tardivon/MaxPPP

    Across the globe, spies gather in inconspicuous places to meet contacts and hold discreet conversations. Wine brotherhoods have historically been much appreciated by French spymasters, who are happy to use them for diplomatic leverage with their foreign counterparts.

    LogoSubscribers only Agencies, Back-Door Diplomacy

    United States
    In Washington, concerns grow over intelligence on Iran's ballistic capabilities

    A woman waves the Iranian flag next to a model of the Iranian Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile in Tehran, on 4 June 2026.
    A woman waves the Iranian flag next to a model of the Iranian Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile in Tehran, on 4 June 2026.© Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/MaxPPP

    US Congress is stepping up pressure on the intelligence community over Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, which are becoming a major challenge for the air defence systems of the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

    LogoSubscribers only Agencies

    China, Netherlands, Vietnam
    Beijing targets Dutch shipyard Royal IHC after Vietnam dredger sales

    View of the Royal IHC shipyard in Kinderdijk, Netherlands.
    View of the Royal IHC shipyard in Kinderdijk, Netherlands.© Jeffrey Groeneweg/ANP via AFP

    China has added the Dutch shipbuilder, which specialises in sand dredgers, to its export control list. The company is paying the price for selling vessels to Vietnam for use in the South China Sea, a region that for the Chinese Communist Party is just as much a red line as Taiwan.

    LogoSubscribers only Defence, Contractors

    Monaco
    With FATF trip, Monaco holds hopes of financial crime 'grey list' removal

    Monaco was placed on the FATF's grey list in June 2024.
    Monaco was placed on the FATF's grey list in June 2024.© Cristian Bonaviri/Alamy

    A delegation from the Financial Action Task Force which placed Monaco on its "grey list" in mid-2024, will travel to the principality next week. Beyond assessing the technical reforms implemented by Monaco's financial intelligence unit, the trip will focus on evaluating the authorities' actions against money laundering.

    LogoSubscribers only Corporate Intel

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