Spymaster | Qatar
Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, from lawyer to chief Gaza negotiator

France, Saudi Arabia
Paris appoints new ambassador to revive stalled relations

Patrick Maisonnave is to take up his post in Riyadh in September, with bilateral relations struggling and Paris increasingly interested in being part of the new Saudi-Israeli connection that has emerged from the war with Hamas.

Spotlight | Afghanistan, China
Academic review serves as cover for CCP investment in Afghanistan

As it battles for security guarantees in return for greater recognition of the Taliban regime, the Chinese Communist Party has chosen an unusual strategy to further its interests in Kabul.

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.

The Agencies' Gazette
Majed Faraj named minister, French intel uses Hebrew, Chinese democracy promoted, Chechen base in Kyiv

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Ramallah to Paris via Beijing and Kyiv.

PalestineMahmoud Abbas confirms Majed Faraj's role as spymaster

FranceFrench intelligence doubles down on need for Hebrew

ChinaBeijing uses Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to promote its vision of democracy

UkraineChechen opposition faction grows stronger in Kyiv

Qatar
Doha Bank fails to extricate itself from case of alleged Qatari funding of al-Nusra

A case in which Doha Bank is accused of financing the Syrian Islamic militant group Jabhat al-Nusra has been rumbling on since 2019. A new twist in the tale means that the Qatari bank is far from extricating itself from the affair.

Israel, Palestine, Qatar
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.

Qatar, Syria, United Kingdom
Consultants heard in trial of suspected Qatari funding of Nusra Front

A slew of consultants have given testimony in the UK trial to determine Qatar's alleged support of the former Syrian movement Jabhat Al Nusra, shedding light as much on the role played by Doha Bank and Qatari brothers Moutaz and Ramez Al Khayyat as their own involvement in the Syrian conflict.

United States
Qatar opens transfer season for Gulf lobbyists in Washington

After years nurturing an army of lobbyists close to the Republican Party and Donald Trump, Doha is now adjusting its game in order to get ready for the Democrats. The EAU, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers are still biding their time before switching sides.