Brookings Institution

China
21st Congress: Xi cracks down on leaks, launches 'official' communication channel

In the run-up to the 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which is shaping up to be one of the most sensitive in decades, President Xi Jinping is tightening control over information flows regarding personnel changes.

The Agencies' Gazette
Sisse, Brookings Institution, Viginum, Chairman Mao revival

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceNew SISSE director a man of many means

United States Brookings Institution hires Kamala Harris's former adviser

FranceDigital watchdog Viginum launches information manipulation academy

ChinaGuoanbu behind Chairman Mao revival

UAE
Ali Al Mannaei, from Darkmatter cyber business developer to security provider

The architect of Abu Dhabi's sovereign cyber sector, Ali Al Mannaei, continues to keep a low profile while doing business. Still very much involved in Emirati defence networks, he is now consolidating all his security operations within his Al Hamra Group.

China, United States
Yuan Yi Kun, strategist for Guoanbu's new US approach

Under the supervision of Yuan Yi Kun, a former researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, the Ministry of State Security wants to take advantage of what it perceives as a moment of weakness in the United States.

Taiwan, United States
Huang and Chen, the Kuomintang's deft Washington duo

Taiwan's Kuomintang has deployed envoys Alexander Huang and Admiral Richard Chen to Washington to change the traditional view that the opposition party is always close to Beijing, before looming presidential elections in both countries.

Russia, Ukraine, United States
Free Russia Foundation, a shadowy Washington group at the heart of a network of anti-Russia activism

Working in tandem with a largely invisible sister entity, the Foundation seeks to pave the way for a "post-Putin" era and opposes Russia's war in Ukraine. Citing security, the group keeps its grantees confidential.

United States
Biden administration's call to renew major intelligence law triggers congressional and lobbying battle

Intelligence and law enforcement heavyweights support the bid to extend Section 702, which opened the door to domestic surveillance without a warrant. GOP, Democrats, lobbyists and even intelligence employees appear divided on the matter. If not passed by the year's end, Section 702 will expire.

United States
White House wants bipartisan approach to strategic research on China

To work on more effective policy for countering China, especially on economic and strategic terms, the US is supporting bipartisan research, taking a step away from the division, and confusion, of the Trump years.

United States
Why In-Q-Tel poached the Intelligence Committee's Raffaela Wakeman

The former staff director for the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Subcommittee (STAR) will now help the CIA's venture capital firm rebuild relations with Congress.

Insiders | Iran, United Kingdom
Norman Lamont, pillar of the British-Iranian business community

Since leaving his post as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of John Major in the mid-1990s, Norman Lamont, now Lord Lamont of Lerwick, has made a name for himself as an adviser and lawyer to the richest business people in the Iranian diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Israel
Pardo’s successor at Mossad

According to our sources, Yossi Cohen is the favourite to succeed Tamir Pardo as head of Mossad next year if [...]