Miami becomes new US corporate intelligence capital

• SPRINGFIELD - NGA looks for computer vision provider

• WASHINGTON - Peggy Lyons starts afresh at OSINT Foundation

• PARIS/DUBAI - French cyber sector united for GISEC

• IDAHO FALLS - Idaho National Laboratory's anti-cryptojacking algorithm still for sale

• TEL AVIV - Rayzone poaches NSO's head of sales for Africa

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Boston's Airde Group trips up on Turkish rugs 

The private investigation firm has been working for Turkish carpet maker Orient Turistik Magazacilik San Ve Tic, (OTMSVT) which alleges that distributor Aytek passed off poor quality rugs as imitations of OTMSVT products. The investigation's results have been mixed.

K2 expert and JS Held come to SEC's aid in case against Queens real estate tycoon 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused property developer Richard Xia of pocketing $229m from real estate scams in New York. Financial intelligence consultants are helping to investigate the securities fraud case.

British investigators flock south to Florida Eldorado 

Like the many East Coast corporate intelligence operators, British firms are now being drawn to the Miami sun after traditionally taking root in the concrete jungle of New York City.

• LONDON - Retired Lord Richards leaves Equilibrium without a captain.

• WASHINGTON - 5 Stones poaches more DEA agents in D.C.

• SEATTLE - Concentric expands Washington seat.

• LONDON - Cyber firm Othrys gets a new CISO. 

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Anglo-Dutch alliance to monitor Russian cryptocurrency transactions for Ukraine 

Thanks to its local contacts, the crypto investigation firm Crystal Blockchain has signed a new contract with the Ukrainian government, another milestone in its conquest of the former Soviet republics. It will monitor Russian blockchain transactions, which are subject to international sanctions, on its opponent's behalf.

Russian banks ramp up lobbying efforts in US to avoid being on sanctions list  Free

Florida-based consultancy Mercury Public Affairs has won a new Russian lobbying contract on US soil for Sovcombank, which is worried about being included in a future round of sanctions from Washington.

• LONDON - Raedas passes the Covid test.

• PARIS - FTI brings in Karl Payeur to turn round its investigations business.

• LONDON - Montrose germinates in Germany thanks to super-diplomat Michael Schaefer.
  

• NEW YORK - Casale moves from FBI anti-corruption unit into pharmaceuticals.

• MIAMI-PARIS - Former DEA Paris bureau chief joins 5 Stones.

Wall Street's biggest users of private investigators settle their scores in battle over Universal 

The future of music industry giant Universal will be settled in Paris tomorrow by "activist" investment companies. All the protagonists, who include Daniel Loeb and Bill Ackman, are big users of private investigators for their corporate raiding operations.

Franck Holder heads JS Held's investigations practice 

The consulting firm JS Held has hired sector veteran Frank Holder as head of operations to beef up its investigations