Finance

Russia, United Kingdom
Russian Alfa Group's investment arm A1 still going strong as litigation funder in London

The entity that helps Russia's Deposit Insurance Agency fight its legal battles, A1, is still helping it hunt for assets. The UK sanctions on its leaders, including founder Mikhail Fridman, do not seem to have hindered its work in London.

China, United States
Beijing plots next move in Chinese groups' US audits

While the US is convinced that it has put pressure on China by requesting more information on companies listed on its territory, the CCP is actually making the most of the ongoing talks to advance its new global economic strategy.

Central Asia, Russia, United States
Russian banks negotiate with US treasury's OFAC to secure presence in Central Asia

Hit directly or indirectly by US sanctions, Russian banks are negotiating with the US treasury to be able to continue operating in Central Asia.

France, Japan, United Kingdom
Audere ups its game with new Asia-focused consultants

Oliver Blackmore earlier this year completed taking over Audere International, a corporate intelligence firm founded by his father Charles Blackmore. He is now stepping up recruitment of consultants internationally, particularly in Asia, to strengthen his company's presence there.

France, Israel
French businessman Hervé Vinciguerra makes further investment in NSO founder's cyber empire

Orchestra, the cybersecurity firm founded by Israeli cyberintelligence veterans Omri Lavie and Isaac Zack, has teamed with a partner who has a large network of political and economic contacts in France.

The Agencies' Gazette
Afghan planes in Tashkent, Russian military engineers decorated, DNI

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, we serve up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we go from Paris to Tashkent, Washington, Brussels and Kabul.

Uzbekistan/AfghanistanTashkent refuses to return Afghan planes to Kabul.

RussiaMoscow decorates military engineers.

FranceMarc Burg lures more top spies to his degree course.

ParisSenators call for a law on facial recognition.

United StatesDNI tasked again to tackle China's support to Russia.

EuropeEuropol, future watchdog of foreign investment in the EU.

Spotlight | Russia, Ukraine, United States
Kyiv and Washington coordinate future sanctions against Moscow

A group of senior officials, lobbyists, academics, activists, investigators and communications experts are drawing up lists of potential targets for US sanctions against Russia, as well as promoting new international political reprisals.

Belarus, Russia
Minsk opposition keeps up connections with Moscow

The Belarusian opposition faction led by Valery Tsepkalo, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's rival, is keeping in with Russian contacts who are ready and willing to back popular and political activism against Lukashenko.

Spotlight | Russia
Russia's tax havens cash in on West's hunt for oligarchs

Boosted by the conflict in Ukraine, the attractive tax regimes of Kaliningrad and Vladivostok are now being snapped up by Russian conglomerates hit or threatened by Western sanctions, with Viktor Vekselberg and Said Kerimov the latest to join in.