BfV in turmoil

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 officially charged with stealing state secrets for China.

Germany
German intelligence agencies feel political pressure during shake-up

Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarrassed Germany's foreign spy service by criticising it over operational failings in a television interview amid administrative chaos at the country's intelligence services.

The Intelligence Gazette
Charles III's spies, Iraqi Mukhabarat mobilised, Confucius Institutes under US pressure, research at GCHQ, German counter-espionage and France's CNRLT

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets from the global intelligence community and this week we're heading to Kerbala, Washington, London, Berlin and Paris.

United Kingdom Charles III, King of Spies

Iraq Intelligence services suit up ahead of Arba'een pilgrimage

United States/China Pressure mounts on Confucius institutes

United Kingdom GCHQ creates a behavioural science research centre to screen hires

Germany Doubts over counter-terrorism, now counter-espionage

France New candidate for the CNRLT

Germany
Germany tightens the screws on control of domestic intelligence

On top of changes in its leadership, the BfV, Germany's domestic intelligence service, is also readying itself for an extra layer of command, in the form of a supervisory body.

Iraq
Cerbair's anti-drone system sparks interest of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service

As drone attacks increase in Baghdad, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service is making moves to tackle the threat. It has shown interest in the systems developed by French company Cerbair despite US domination of the local defence market.

Israel, Singapore
NSO keeps a foot in Singapore thanks to TRD

In a bad position in Singapore on cyber intelligence, NSO Group maintains a presence in the city-state thanks to local anti-drone technology integrator TRD Consultancy, which distributes the products of its subsidiary Convexum.

France
French parliamentary elections set to shake up intelligence oversight

The expected rise of the far left and far right in next month's French legislative elections looks set to trigger tensions over control of the country's intelligence apparatus.

Germany
Reforming German intelligence services grapple with Russian threat

The BND's reform is facing tough circumstances, with the external intelligence service having to step up to the task of responding to Russia.

Sweden
New Swedish anti-fake news agency boosts online investigation capacity to counter Russian threat

Like their counterparts in other Western countries, Sweden's intelligence services are looking for open source intelligence contractors to help them combat Russian propaganda.

Spotlight | India
Western anti-drone specialists home in on Indian market

After having suffered a number of incidents involving drones, India is looking to update its capacity to combat drone attacks. The contracts which are likely to follow are attracting new entrants to the anti-drone market, particularly German, Australian and American companies, which are looking to forge links with local distributors.

Spotlight | Europe
Athens in drone technology spree

Greece is quietly developing its own drone industry while its security services, faced with urgent needs, continue to import off-the-shelf technology from France and Germany.

Germany
Schmidt-Deguelle can put his China expertise to work for Berlin Global Advisors

After having been with WMP Eurocom, which has worked as a lobbyist in Berlin for China, Schmidt-Deguelle has joined business diplomacy firm Berlin Global Advisors, which includes a number of former BND intelligence service officers among its employees.

Qatar, Switzerland, UAE
Pluteos Middle East push

After having worked extensively in the UAE, Lucerne-based financier Samuel Danilowitsch is developing his intelligence consulting company Pluteos in the Middle East.

Germany
BND, undergoing shakeup, to receive more funding

The German budget for 2021, published on 4 December, foresees a sharp increase in the appropriations for the external intelligence [...]