Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Misnad plays Emir's private diplomat

Abu Dhabi challenges Riyadh for UNESCO director-general role 

Audrey Azoulay will step down as DG of UNESCO in 2025 and Saudi Arabia's designs on the prestigious international role now face a challenge from the UAE as the neighbouring countries both seek to raise their profiles and influence.

How the Mossad outsources covert operations to its Malaysian agents 

The Mossad's attempt to run covert operations in Malaysia from Israel has recently been publicly exposed as a failure. It also unwittingly disclosed how it recruits, trains and remotely controls cells of local agents.

• UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN - Islamabad and Doha aid CIA-Taliban meeting.

• UNITED KINGDOM - Intelligence issues in British space strategy.

• RUSSIA - Intelligence services at heart of new Ukraine coordination council.

• SERBIA - Vucic blends geopolitics with internal security.

French foreign ministry puts Afghanistan on hold 

The French foreign ministry's team responsible for Afghanistan has been dismantled. For the moment no one has been appointed to replace outgoing ambassador David Martinon.

Riyadh sets its sights on UNESCO's top job 

Determined to become a world tourist destination by promoting its history, Saudi Arabia is rolling out a discreet influence strategy. After having laid its first groundwork, Riyadh is now working to secure the leadership of UNESCO.

Muscat and Doha jostle for lead mediatory role in Iranian nuclear talks 

Both capitals want to be the main mediator in the negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and are now competing directly for the role. Both have called in their respective spy chiefs to work behind the scenes to cultivate their special relationships with the West and Iran.

US and France keep watch on Qatar's pro-Ukraine shift 

Despite having heavily invested in Russia when blocked from its Gulf neighbours from 2017 to 2021, Qatar has taken the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to confirm its support for the Washington-Brussels axis. For Moscow, this does not mean Doha has passed a point of no return.

Qatar and Bahrain still squabbling despite end to blockade 

Territorial disputes, dynastic tensions and property seizures are clear signs that Doha and Manama's relations are still far from harmonious despite the lifting of the regional blockade on Qatar. The latter, which has not reconciled with Israel, is also vexed that Bahrain's alliance with the Jewish state appears to be growing ever stronger.

Ramallah's banking moguls turn backs on Qatari funds for fear of sanctions 

After being called on Israel to rethink its mechanism for transfer donor money to the Gaza Strip, Qatar first thought of using Palestinian banks, but the directors of these refused to avoid potential reprisals from Israel.

Shin Bet and IDF compete for cyber talent 

Present at the Cybertech fair in Tel Aviv at the beginning of February, the Israeli internal intelligence service Shin Bet