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Russia, UAE
Dubai's Sharaf clan helps Russia to ship its oil to India

Russian tanker operator Sovcomflot is relying more than ever before on the links of its Dubai subsidiary with the Sharaf clan in the Emirates to ensure it secures contracts to take oil to India.

The Agencies' Gazette
Cairo shifts view on Syria, DGSE on Order of Liberation board, drones for Portuguese military, ex-FSO to Russian Security Council, CIA moles

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets of news, big and small, from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Cairo, Moscow, Lisbon and Paris.

Egypt/Syria Cairo shifts position on Syria's return to Arab League

Portugal Military intelligence eyes US drones

Russia Yet another ex-FSO officer joins Security Council

France DGSE wants seat on Order of the Liberation board

United States Baer vs Redmond, score settling between former CIA officers over a book

Russia, UAE
Armoured vehicle maker Streit symbolises Russia-UAE defence industry ties

Guerman Goutorov, head of the Ras Al Khaimah-based Streit Group, one of the world's largest armoured vehicle manufacturers, has reorientated his activities since the war in Ukraine and is counting on support from Putin's inner circle and the UAE authorities to help him break into new markets in Africa.

Qatar, Syria
Ba'ath Party lawyer fails to prosecute Qatar for financing Syrian opposition

Defending Christian Arabs, an association close to the Syrian and Iraqi Ba'ath communities, has not been able to prosecute the Emir of Qatar and former Qatari PM in London for allegedly financing the Syrian Free Army to destabilise Bashar Al Assad.

Spotlight | France, UAE
Sylvain Vieujot, the richest Frenchman in Dubai, caught up in dynastic power struggle

Equitativa Group's Emirates REIT, one of the largest property trusts in the Gulf, is the subject of several investigations and a lawsuit from a former partner linked to Tahnoon bin Zayed. The business duo Vieujot-Mouquet, who are connected to MbZ, are also being closely watched.

Italy, Qatar
Friction between Rome and ENI in European race for non-Russian gas

Though he is still backing the national oil champion's bid for gas in Qatar, Italian prime minister Mario Draghi has taken steps to gain more independence from Russia, and from the oil and gas giant itself.

The Agencies' Gazette
CIA, Georgia's GIS, Hamas finance, DGSE operations

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global intelligence community. This week we home in on the US, Georgia, Palestine, Turkey and France.

United StatesCIA's spies experience housing crisis in Langley

GeorgiaGovernment increases oversight of GIS' international dealings

Palestine/TurkeyHamas still receiving funds from Turkey

FranceDGSE operations department poised to get new chief

Iran, United States
Seasoned lobbyist Ayal Frank signs up with Iranian Kurds

The communications consultant, who already works on behalf of the Syrian Kurds, was recently hired by the Iranian Kurdish party Komala. In Washington, he intends to promote the interests of the Middle Eastern minority as a whole.

China, East Europe, Russia, United States
Washington seeks to prevent Russian power grab at International Telecommunication Union

Both major parties in the House of Representatives recently joined forces to pass a law calling on the State Department to actively back "pro-democracy" candidates for the leadership of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). So as to counter Rashid Ismailov, a Russian former minister who has also worked for Huawei.

Turkey, UAE
Aselsan, Baykar, TOGG: Abu Dhabi eyes acquisition of Turkey's military industry

The UAE's busy national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan has designs on Turkey's defence industry and is looking to acquire a stake in Aselsan, while keeping one eye on the reconciliation between Riyadh and Ankara.